Jewelry? No Thanks.

In response to my posting last night about not knowing what I wanted for Christmas this year from my husband, someone wrote me suggesting "You can never go wrong with jewelry for a wife or girlfriend."

I beg to differ though.

I don't wear jewelry. Not really any way. I wear my engagement ring from my husband. I wear my wedding band too. Occasionally I wear funky earrings that I find at H&M. And for a while, I was on a beading kick and was making lots of necklaces. And I only make funky necklaces. Things that are trendy. Then, when the trend is over, I take them apart and re-bead them into other necklaces and bracelets.

So, jewelry is out. I'm not a fan of fancy jewelry. I would never wear it. Feel free to keep sending me suggestions though for gift ideas.

THANKS!

Wow.

Bit of a dilemma I have found myself in now...

My husband asked me what I wanted for Christmas this evening... And I have no idea what I want. There isn't anything I need. I'm not craving any new bags, as I don't work and don't really have any where to use them. I don't need any new clothes for the same reason. I bought the apron I was craving a few weeks ago. And my family bought me the cleaning appliances I wanted.

I guess you could say; I have everything I want for now.

But don't worry. I'll come up with something for him.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas...

At least, in my household it is!



My 6.5 foot fake Christmas Evergreen Tree by Martha Stewart Everyday arrived via UPS this morning. I spent all day un-packing, organizing the branches and assembling the tree. Since I was on a roll, I went ahead and decorated it as well. Because we have 11-foot ceilings (at least) I put it on our dining table in the bow-front windows. This way, people walking on the street will see it quite well from where they stand.

Yay! The holidays are here!!!!!

"Chick" Show For Guys?

So, I (as I am sure you have as well) seen those ads all over TV for that new show on TBS called "My Boys." It's about a 20/30-something female writer who lives in a big city and has trouble dating. The show includes a cast of close friend whose lives you get to peer into as well; and of course there are insightful voice-overs from the female lead character that help us viewers figure out what she is thinking as she rides the dating waves.

So, basically, it's "Sex and the City"... Only this female writer is a tomboy sports writer living in Chicago. And she has only one female friend. All the rest are guys. Guys who see her as "one of the guys." And it's not a bad show. But it definitely lags; for some reason I don't know. I will attempt to watch it again next Tuesday; as I am hoping that the first two episodes (which aired tonight) left me un-fullfilled because there is so much "set-up" to do in them. I mean, they have to introduce us to the lead character and all her friends. We have to believe that she could be a real person and we have to "buy-in" to the idea that she is who she says she is and lives her life the way she does. We also have to find some way to relate to her.

And maybe that's it... I don't relate to her. Not yet, anyway. I will keep watching; but for now, I see this as a "chick" show for guys. Meaning it's a "guy-friendly" version of "Sex and the City."

It's Genius!

I've seen stuff like this before; but I was online doing some Christmas shopping this afternoon and I came across this:



It's a "batter" bowl with a spout on it that makes it easier for baking.

Why do I think this is a cool product? Well, as I do a lot of baking, an item like this makes it much easier to transfer batters into pans. I can't tell you how many times I have spilt batter all over the baking tin when trying to make cupcakes and muffins. Even when I use an ice cream scoop (which is what I use to transfer the batter), I still manage to make a mess when trying to get the portions right in each cup.

Burnt Out?

How appropriate... I came across this quiz on MSNBC that tests for job burn out.

I took it myself thinking about my last job. Apparently, I was in fact burnt out. No surprise there.

Take it yourself. What does it say about you and your job????

I've Come To The Conclusion...

... That the "Tall" size for drinks from Starbucks is more than ample.

I was at the Starbucks here in the airport trying to decide between the Pumpkin Spice Latte or the Caramel Machiatto. I was gonna go for a "Grande" size because I haven't had really any coffee today. Then I noticed the price for the "Grande" size on both drinks here in the airport... $4.29.

Seriously, over four bucks for a "Grande"????????? That's a rip-off. In Boston, the same size is about 50-cents less. So, needless to say, I went with the "Tall" size. With tax, the drink cost me $3.56.

But this got me thinking about a topic that kept coming up this week in Arizona while visiting my family... "What is necessary?"

For example, when I usually go on vacation to visit my family, I end up doing some serious shopping and picking up stuff that I normally can't find too easily at home. For example, there isn't a Target anywhere near me in Boston. So the only time I go to one is when I am at home. And there were a ton of things I would have liked to bought:

1. Mattress Pad
2. Hello Kitty Lamp
3. New DVDs
4. New Books

You know; a bunch of crap that really isn't necessary. Just nice to have. But eventually, you have to "de-clutter" your home; and all this once "nice to have" stuff is really just stuff that's taking up space. So with every purchase I make now, I really examine how much I need the item or experience.

So no spontaneous purchases allowed. And no more "Grande" drinks. The "Tall" is fine.

Boston Logan Needs to Step Up to the Plate...

... when it comes to wireless services for travelers.

I'm on the floor near an outlet at my gate for my flight back to Boston in an hour. I logged onto my laptop to do some writing and I realized that the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport offers free wireless. FREE!!! FREE!!!!

In Logan, you have to pay for using it. And I imagine there are slightly more business travelers on a daily basis flying out of Logan.

Now I must go read some Perez. See you on the East coast!

Hmm... Not So "Lovely."

I'm picky when it comes to my fragrances. For the past two years I have really been into scents by Jo Malone. She creates the scents based on natural instinct, and they are easy to layer and mix. My current favorite mixing combo is Honeysuckle and Jasmine with Vintage Gardenia or French Lime Blossom.

Anyhow... I've been living in this Jo Malone world for quite a while that I haven't really tested any new fragrance brands. So while out shopping with my mum and sister today, I picked up a few scents and sprayed them on my wrists. Out of the few that I tried, my least favorite was a particular brand that many people I know have been raving about for the past year... "Lovely" by Sarah Jessica Parker.



I don't understand the appeal of the this scent. And I was so looking forward to trying it. It smells like "Old Lady." You know, the type an old lady would wear to lunch. Not a "lovely" scent.

"Someday" It Will Get Done.

Oh.... If only there was more time in the day to get everything done.

Well, since I am not working, these days I can get most things done. But back when I was working, there was never enough time to get things done. I was always in need of an extra day.

Well, reading through the Styles section of the times this morning, I came across this article on organizing home offices. In it was a link to a really cute site called "See Jane Work."

The site features all kinds of things a working gal needs to stay organized while keeping in style. I'm still checking out the site, but I found this cute planner I think I really want to order.




It's an a day planner with 8 days for every week. The 8th day, titled "Someday," is meant to be a running list of what you want to get done that week; whenever you have a chance to do it.

So, until the week really does have 8 days in it, this is one of the best things to help you get it all done. I think.

Thanksgiving Heat.

Good call on my part for suggesting my husband and I spend American Thanksgiving here in Southern Arizona. The temperature today is in the high 70s, and it will be sunny and clear. I should have brought my swimsuit.

In Boston, its is 43 degrees and rainy.

Funny enough though; since I grew up in Southern Arizona... I am more familiar with Thanksgiving having mild or warm temperatures. Thanksgiving hasn't really been a cold, Autumn holiday.

I am looking forward to spending Christmas in Boston though. It will be my second there. (We usually come to Arizona for Christmas.) I hope it snows in Beantown for that holiday.

Blue Laws... Screwing All Of Us.

I never knew how antiquated Massachusetts could be; despite being a progressive state politically.

This morning I was reading the Globe, and I saw this article on the Blue Law that forbids stores from being open on Thanksgiving Day. That, apparently, means grocery stores too. And the police actually go around enforcing this law on Thanksgiving Day. They shut down stores that are in violation.

This is insane. Though I moved Boston from NYC a few years ago... And in NYC, you could get anything, anytime.

I guess if you need milk at the last minute tomorrow to finish off those mashed potatoes or gravy for your dinner, you're totally screwed.

My Attempt At A Graphic Strip...

I discovered this really cool software on my computer... It's called "Comic Life." And I guess it comes pre-installed on a MAC. Sweet! Here is what I came up with so far...



I know. Not the greatest effort. But I haven't figured out how to either draw images into the cells or upload them. If you know how, write me and tell me. There's a project I want to get started on another blog using this software.

Bond: It's All It Should Be... And More.

The price of a movie ticket hasn't changed much since I was a teenager in the small town where I grew up. This afternoon, my husband and I decided to catch the new Bond movie, "Casino Royale," at one of the local theaters. An afternoon ticket cost $4.25... That's cheaper than a children's ticket at the Loews Boston Common Theater.

The movie totally kicked ass. Incredible ass. This is truly what a Bond flick should be. I don't know what the crap is that Hollywood has been feeding us in terms of Bond films for the last 15 years; but it doesn't even compare to the new Bond film.

First, Daniel Craig was an amazing choice for Bond; despite the outcry from people about having a blonde Bond. Second, the cheesy factor from all the previous Bonds (with Pierce Brosnan) is gone. Thank GOD! This new Bond is an action hero. He's a man you don't mess with; because if you do, he'll kill you. Flat out. He doesn't mess around. Third, this Bond has no attachments to anyone. And he doesn't pretend to be suave. He is who he is, and he says what he wants. "Screw you" if you don't like it.

I definitely recommend checking it out. It's a new Bond. A much better Bond.

Who Knew....

That Spiegel had such great, stylish and inexpensive stuff???

I didn't. I never gave the site/catalog a second thought. That is until I was reading a copy of my Mum's Star Magazine (I'm visiting my folks for American Thanksgiving.) In one of the pictorials, there was this adorable Botkier-inspired bag...



Seriously, how cute? And only $69.

Shoe Personality: What's Your Style?

I was online this morning, dilly-dallying around iVillage, and I came across this shoe personality quiz.

According to the quiz, I have the following shoe personality:

You're a pointy-toe stiletto/slingback!
The latest fashion magazines are your monthly bible. You love shoes so much that you ran out of room in your closet for shoe boxes, so the oven now doubles as a storage unit. You're always looking sophisticated and polished, even when you have jeans on, and Gwyneth Paltrow and Sarah Jessica Parker are your idols. Every seasonal trend is right up your alley, and most trends work back to things that are already in your closet. Looking great was never so easy!

However.... Even though I love fashion. am up to date on trends and do absolutely adore Gwyneth and SJP's style, I don't like wearing stilettos that often... And I think slingbacks are incredibly trashy-looking. And truth be told, I am more often wearing stylish sneakers and flip-flops than I am the fancy shoes.

I think I'll retake the quiz and see if it comes back with something else. But feel free to take the quiz yourself and let me know what it comes back with for you!

Weekend Warrior.

I decided, since I've taken the past few days off, that tomorrow I will do two back-to-back Bikram yoga classes.

Why?

Because I've never done it. And I've always wanted to. Also, I will be out of town all next week and not able to attend any classes where I am going... So if I can pull a double or two this weekend, that will balance out not going next week.

Tempting the "Fates."

The "sulfates" that is.

Sulfates (salt) are used in many beauty products to create a lather when you use them. They're in the Meyer's Lavender hand soap I have on the bathroom counter. They're in the Physician's Choice of Arizona face wash for oily skin I use. They're even in most shampoos and conditioners. And that is bad. Bad for curly/wavy-haired gals... Like me.

Creating a lather when you use a product makes for easier distribution of the product over the surface (skin or hair). But when it comes to curly and wavy hair, they can make you're hair go crazy and frizzy. They irritate the cuticles in the strands. So for girls with hair like mine, the best thing to do is avoid shampoos with product names that include "sulfate" in them.

But....

Good luck finding shampoos in the local CVS that don't have them. I know because I spent quite a bit of time picking up brands lining the shelves checking for "sodium laurel sulfate" or "ammonium laurel sulfate" as an ingredient. So back home and onto Google I went!

In a matter of seconds Google returned many search results for the query "shampoo without sodium laurel sulfate." I quickly learned that there are brands out there that don't contain this ingredient; and are available at stores within walking distance of me. The one brand I came across that really got my attention was "Aubrey Organics."

It got my attention because, coincidentally, I used to do PR for this company when I lived in NYC. It was five and a half years ago... I was working at a boutique PR firm in Manhattan that focused on beauty, health and fitness clients. One of our clients was a health and organic beauty company (Aubrey Organics.) The day I started at the firm, my boss (the President) loaded me with free samples of the products. And while they all smelled great, I wasn't really interested in them for myself as the packaging wasn't really pretty, back then. I did use some of the powdered-mineral make up. But ultimately, they didn't impress me.

Flash-forward years later and I am staring at the website on my computer screen, reading the ingredients. And I decide to rush over to Whole Foods to buy some new shampoo and conditioner.



I brought it home and tried it out yesterday. And the first thing I noticed was that the shampoo doesn't really lather up at all. I almost dumped another handful on my head, because I left like it wasn't getting my thick hair clean. But I decided to just continue with the recommended amount; and then rinsed it out. I moved onto the conditioners and noticed it was very thick. I didn't feel compelled to use a half a cup like I do with my other conditioner. I let it sit on my hair for about five minutes. Then rinsed it out and took a shower comb to my hair.

The verdict...

This stuff is awesome! My hair felt clean AND I had no knots in my wavy hair when I went to comb it through.

This is great stuff.

A Mutha Effin' Outrage!

I am so stunned and angered by this incident I learned about on PerezHilton.com.

A UCLA student (who happens to be Iranian-American) was in one of the student libraries late at night on Tuesday. He didn't have his university ID card on him; and it is the rule of the library (for safety reasons) that only students and faculty have access to the library late at night. However, when he refused to leave after not being able to provide student identification, campus police were called. They came in, confronted him. They handcuffed him, and then TASED him.

Now, I understand the need to control an unruly person. If someone is a threat to everyone around them, and they are not cooperating; yes, you may need to use some force. But a guy who is handcuffed and not armed does not need to be TASED. If anything, the pain from the tasing is going to prevent them from being able to fully cooperate with you... Which is the case with the UCLA student.

If you watch the video of the incident (on PerezHilton) you may be disgusted by how campus police handled the situation too. The library was packed with students too... And they were all equally outraged by the incident. Students began demanding badge numbers of officers; and in response, one officer then threatened a student with a tasing.

Is that the kind of behavior we need from the "law"in this country?

What Happened To Fall?

You remember last Spring when I wrote about how I was looking forward to the chunky knits and layering that was to be the look of the Fall season?

Well, here it is now mid-November and I am not layering. Why? Because for some reason, it is very mild here in Boston. Yesterday's high was in the low 60s. Today's high is supposed to be around or just above that. I don't even need a coat. It's insane! One of the things I was looking forward to when I moved to the East coast six and a half years ago (from Arizona) was the changing seasons you actually get out here.

Actually... The truth is that when I found myself with more time last month, I got around to finishing a creamy scarf that I had started a few months back.



It's a beautiful scarf, and I am quite pleased with myself. It's very long and wide. And I only dropped one stitch when making it. And I figured out how to fix it!

So hurry up and get here, Fall. I want to begin some serious layering. But I need temps below 50 degrees first!

My Two Weaknesses: Chocolate and Handbags.

On Tremont Street, where I live in the South End, there is a creepy nail salon across the street. I don't know the name of it... But I have been there before. And it was that experience that jaded me on having pedicures or manicures from non-spa places. (I lost a toe nail there, and they burned my eye brows after harassing me into having them waxed despite my better judgement.)

Anyway... Because of my bad experience in the nail salon, I avoid walking past the joint at all costs. Or I did.. Till I noticed something that drew me back across the street recently...

I discovered a new shop in my hood... A CHOCOLATE BOUTIQUE called "Choco Choco House."



It's a cute little shop that offers the chicest chocolate treats. The edibles come in many shapes that are almost too pretty to eat. My favorites are the treats in the shape of handbags, followed by the shoes.





Yummy! These would make really cool stocking stuffers for the holiday season. Don't ya think??

Domestic Bliss: It's All About the Suction.

A few weeks ago, my vacuum cleaner (a Bissell from 1999) stopped sucking up dirt. I was trying to vacuum up dust bunnies from under the couch... And the cleaner just stopped picking up the dirt. I turned it off and pried it open. The cleaner bag was FULL. Dust and dirt was living in the suctioning tubes. So off to the hardware store I went to buy some new bags. But you know what? Turns out vacuum cleaner bags for my particular model aren't really available anymore. So what's a domesticated gal to do??????

Get a new freakin' vacuum cleaner. That's what.

So, thus began my research for a new model. My husband and I live in a very old brownstone apartment in the South End. So most of our apartment consists of beautiful hard wood floors. But we do have an ornate carpet in the living room. And the second bedroom, china pantry area and dressing room all have carpets as well. So we needed one that was light and could trolley around the apartment. We also needed one that came with tubes and hoses to clean off furniture, blinds and drapes. We decided on the Dirt Devil Bagless Breeze vacuum cleaner, which we ordered from Home Depot for $59.99. And because it's bagless, I don't have to worry about trying to figure which bags to buy for it.

But, as I was online looking for the best deal on the best model for our needs, I came across a bunch of other vacuum cleaner things that I loved. In fact, I loved them so much, I am asking for them for Christmas. And they are really ideal (and inexpensive) items for apartments and homes like ours. My new fascination with vacuum cleaners includes...

The Dirt Devil Kone



This thing is perfect for picking up small bunnies living and loving and multiplying in the corners of your flat. Plus it comes in quite a few colors... So you have many options. I am leaning towards the charcoal model... As it is a conservative color. Though I would also enjoy the plum color.

Dirt Devil Broom Vac



How genius is this product????? This is exactly what we need in our apartment! It's a broom that sucks up the dirt you sweep. No dealing with dust pans! This too comes in a wide variety of colors. I prefer the red, orange or yellow ones.

Bikram Yoga 30-Day Challenge: DONE!

Yay! I did it! I did it! I did it!

I am completely done with the 30-Day Bikram yoga challenge. That was 30 days in a row of 90 minutes of hot yoga. And today's class was really tough to get through... Probably because it was 108 degrees in the room before we started the class. I don't even want to think about what the temperature was during the class.

But, the challenge is done. Now I can just go back to having days off in between classes.

So, progress as a result of the challenge...

1. I can make it through 90 minutes of class with fewer water breaks.
2. My postures are much improved from where I was 30 days ago.
3. I'm more focused and balanced; not just in class when practicing. It extends to beyond class and into everyday.
4. The small "shit" doesn't bother me in life. At least not lately. I have so much more to focus on now.
5. I sleep more soundly and regularly.
6. Ohmigod! My SKIN! It's clearer and it's SOFTER. Especially on my face. Don't know if it is a result from the yoga inducing toxins to leave my body... But I will attribute it to the yoga anyway.
7. Obviously, I am even more flexible than I was 30 days ago. Though Bikram yoga is not just about flexibility.
8. My ass and thighs are noticeably more toned. My tight jeans fit in this area now.
9. I don't know if I've lost weight... But I'm assuming I have. At least 10 pounds.
10. My arms look great. (Yoga arms!!!!) I wish it were summer now. I would go sleeveless everyday.
11. I eat differently. I don't diet. I just crave different things now. More fruit... Especially oranges and apples.
12. I am motivated to practice every day. It's that simple... Once you start going regularly, your body starts to crave it. It feels wrong when you don't go.

Will I do the 30-Day challenge again? You betcha!!!!! I plan on trying to do it two to four times a year from here on out.

So, to celebrate my achievement, I went and got a Fusion Massage at exhale after class. It was awesome!!!

If you haven't tried Bikram, I recommend you give it some thought. It's a great form of yoga to practice, If you're freaked out by the thought of the heat, it's just "mind over matter"... As the instructors say in class.

Fascination With Homekeeping.

I bought Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook this weekend (though I didn't go to her signing... I went to yoga instead.) And it is one of the most useful books I have ever picked up!

Sure, it's a big, heavy book. But it is loaded with all kinds of homekeeping tips. So far, my favorite tip has been how to fold sweaters... The book recommends using an 8.5 by 11 inch cutting board to fold sweaters. This method makes it so easy; and my sweaters have never looked more organized in my dressing room.

More importantly, on the topic of homekeeping, though is how to do it in style. I was online this morning looking at the Anthropologie website (my favorite store) and found a collection of aprons they offer. Below are my favorites...

Budapest Apron - $28.00



Devilled Egg Halter Apron - $38.00



Bambina Apron - $38.00

Practice Yoga - Go In Style.

Lately, at the end of each class - as I am about to leave, someone from class will ask me about my yoga bag (made by Timbuk2).



I've had this yoga bag for about two years now. And I love it. It was a gift from my parents, and it's been very useful. Not only is it a colorful bag (pink and green - how girlie!), it has many functions. First, the yoga mat attaches to the bottom of it via a flap. Any yoga fanatic will automatically appreciate that feature. Also, there are many pockets on the inside of the bag... One that zips for my drenched yoga clothes... One for my jewelry... There's space for a change of clothes, an extra towel and shoes.

If you practice often enough to the point where you are bored with dragging your practice gear around in other bags, this is the bag for you.

My Husband's Obsessed with It.

He'll deny it... But I won't buy it.

Every Saturday evening, out television set in the living room seems to always find itself on CMT (that's the Country Music Television channel). The thing is, both my husband and I detest country music. But it's always the same story on Saturdays...

I go to the 3pm yoga class. I get home about 5:30pm. I go straight to the shower. I emerge about 30 minutes later. I come into the living room, it's on that channel. So what is it that's captured his attention on this channel?

The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders' reality TV show.



It's a show that basically involves these young women all competing to become Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. They work out in short tops, short shorts, wear tons of make-up and style their hair down. (When I was a cheerleader, we weren't allowed to wear a lot of make-up. And our hair was always up and out of our face. And we weren't allowed to bare our mid-driffs.)

Anyway, I often find my husband watching the show either on mute or with the volume turned down very, very low.

The season finale is this week. I'm sure he'll be watching that one too.

Bikram Yoga 30-Day Challenge: Week Four

The end is nigh!

Today's class marked the end of week four; or Day 28. That means only two classes left! Yay!

So, given that I wrap this challenge up in two days, I'm not going to go over the changes I've noticed this week. I will wait until Tuesday to do it. Good stuff though. :)

What Is This B.S. About?

I said it three years ago when I first moved here and I'm gonna say it again... Public transportation in this area is a major joke.

Now sure, I was a little bit tainted when I moved here three years ago. I was coming from NYC, where the subways and some bus service ran 24 hours a day. And you could get anywhere easily (for the most part) using the system.

Here in Boston though, the service ends at about midnight every night. And the subways only go to a few neighborhoods. And the only major "hub" where the subway lines connect is in downtown Boston. So if you live in one of the outer areas on the orange line T and you want to get to Harvard, you have to come into the city, switch to the red line, and then go back outside the city. And the busses aren't that reliable. Service is slow (painfully slow in the winter) and they are usually crowded; any time of day.

But I had grown to accept and even find some enjoyment in watching the cast of characters one sees while riding public transportation. But now my issues with the MBTA are "on" again.

Today the MBTA board approved fare hikes to ride the joke of a system.

At the prices we are paying now to ride the T ($1.25) and the bus ($0.90), the current service offerings and punctuality was "endurable." But what they want to charge us now is a bunch of B.S.

Now we are expected to pay (beginning in a month and a half) $1.70 to ride the T and $1.25 to ride the bus. Commuter rail passes are also being hiked.

I am thrilled to see that both Boston's Mayor and our new Governor-Elect were strongly opposed to these increases. They rightly pointed out that it is not the city's wealthy that take public transportation (though they 100% should.... EVERYONE should... Then we could force the MBTA to provide better service and improve the system), it's the lower and middle class folks, as well as students, who really rely on the system.

This is outrageous.

In NYC, the subway and bus fare is $2.00. And it goes many more places and is available 24 hours a day. An unlimited metro card (which allows you to ride busses and subways) is $76.00 a month. For the same type of MBTA card, you have to pay $71.00 a month. That's the price it is now. Wait till these hikes go into effect. We're going to be paying the same amount of money as NYC for our craptastic (in comparison) service.

THIS IS B.S.

Domestic Bliss: Aprons and Home-Keeping Tips

I've gotten into some unique habits since becoming a wife who stays home...

For instance, I get up at about 7:30am still, every day. No sleeping in.
Specific days are noted for specific chores. (Mondays is bathroom cleaning day, for example.)
I don't grocery shop in bulk. I go every day instead.

The most odd thing I do now though is "don" an apron whenever I cook and clean. I'm dead serious. I left the stress of the world behind, and stepped into a world where I found the need to actually use the aprons I bought ages ago and never used.

Another oddity of my new domestic arrangement, I have grown very interested in household tips. In particular, I have been craving purchasing Martha Stewart's new home-keeping tips book.



I really want this book. It has all kinds of tips for the various elements of domesticity.

So, I've settled into this new lifestyle quite easily. And I was worried that I would be incredibly bored not working. Quite the opposite. I'm busy; but at a good pace... Not in a hectic way.

Stylish Bostonians. And What Is Style?

“Style is knowing who you are, what you want to say, and not giving a damn.” - Gore Vidal.

In the past week, I have seen two local publications come out with the list of who they find to be the most stylish people in Boston. The first one I read through was The Boston Globe's list of the 25 Stylish People in town. The next on was in the latest issue of The Improper Bostonian; they had a list of 10 people.

One publication did a great job with their list. The other list was complete B.S.

The big winner, in my opinion, was the Improper Bostonian, by far. Their list was more diverse. And each person listed was asked questions about their personal style. The answers were as unique as most of the people listed.

The Globe however, put together a very "bland" list. And a list of 25 is way too many. The questions in each person's bio didn't really give us (the readers) a good sense as to what was deemed so "stylish" about them.

This all got me thinking about celebrities and celebutantes, and their sense of "style"; as well as the role "stylists" play in their efforts to put together a look. A lot of the young celebs seem to be "in" with Rachel Zoe, a celebrity stylist. And I will admit, I think Rachel Zoe is excellent at her job. She has good taste. However, when you need a stylist to come up with early every item you purchase for your closet; that is a bit extreme. Stylists should only be used for major events... Such as award shows, TV appearances, movie premieres. You shouldn't use a stylist to put together your everyday clothes. That goes against the whole essence of what style is... "An expression of you."

So, as Gore Vidal said, know who you are and don't give a damn what others think about what you choose to wear each day.

As for me, I'm a jeans and flip-flops kind of gal.

Busting Arizona.

I saw this one coming...

I don't believe in "easy money." I don't go through life expecting to make a landfall of money for putting in a miniscule amount of effort. And that's what I believe the easy money from residential real estate investing to be. And now, I am laughing my butt off at people across the country who are in a dilemma due to the housing markets going bust in once "booming" cities.

The latest to fall, my home state of Arizona... Specifically, the Phoenix area. I got online this morning to read the NY Times front page and saw this article about the housing bubble burst in Arizona.

Sorry, I know I shouldn't laugh at the misfortune of others... But here's a general rule for when it comes to investing and making money people... "If it has become such a popular way to make money, it is a trend. It is a trend that is soon going to die. When investing trends hit the mainstream, and the clerk at the grocery store is giving you financial advice, that's a sign that it is a bad move."

Product Review: Storyville Coffee

What's "brewing" here at the Common Ground? A moderate cup of coffee.

I've been an avid coffee drinker since moving to NYC six years ago. Three years ago I moved to Boston... Or "Beantown" as some call it. (I just call it the "common ground.") Anyway, as a daily coffee drinker, I've had my share of really great cups of coffee. I've also had my share of really "craptastic" cups of coffee. The cup of coffee I am drinking at this very moment is somewhere in between.

I received in the mail today a solicited package of coffee beans from the Storyville Coffee Company. Seeing as I drink lots of coffee, I figured I would be a good person to test their product. The package came complete with brewing instructions for creating the "perfect cup of coffee."

I find it to be the "weakest" cup of coffee I have had in quite a while.

Now, I will admit, I am probably a tainted sampling for them. I like my coffee "strong." Like Andre the Giant hopped up on steroids "strong." This cup was nowhere near that.

The instructions did say that the best way to brew the coffee was with a French press. However, I am not in possession of one. (I kind of hoped that the coffee would show up with one.) As a formerly busy agency marketing person, I didn't have time to brew coffee with a French press. It was all about either the drip machine on the kitchen counter or the Starbucks next to the Hancock Tower. Maybe now that I am a "woman of leisure" I should invest in a French press and re-try the coffee... Because this cup was not enjoyable.

But I am willing to concede that even though I followed the brewing instructions (other than using a French press), that there may be some human error in the resulting cup. So tomorrow morning I will brew a cup with a few more beans in it than what I did this evening.

First taste test out of the gate, Storyville Coffee beans get two skull and crossbones out of five possible.





Please note: This product was requested by me through the BzzAgent program.

Should We Be Assholes Like The French Too?

I don't think French people are "assholes." In fact, after reading this article my Aunt found online and sent to me; I want to emulate the French.

The article, written by Michael Lewis (one of the authors both my husband and I have enjoyed reading) back in 2000, analyzes the differences between how Americans interact with everyday life (you know, "rush-rush here, rush-rush there") and compares it to how the French live life. The French seem to take their time with everything they do. I interpret that as, "They take time to enjoy all of life." From the "lunching" for two to three hours each day, to the 35-hour work week, to the leisurely strolls taken everyday... The typical (from what we understand) French life sounds ideal.

Hmm...

Bikram Yoga Challenge: Day 21

As my instructor B. told me yesterday, I'm "rounding the corner" in this challenge.

Today's 4pm class in Harvard Square marked day 21 in my 30-Day Bikram Yoga Challenge. So this means I only have 9 days left to go.

NINE DAYS PEOPLE!!!!

I have never done 21 days of yoga in the span of two months, let alone consecutively in 30 days. So I am happy with my effort, to say the least. I am also noticing incredible changes in my body as well as in my poses in each class.

My effort in this challenge has done the following to me:

1. I have more energy, for the most part. I at least have had the energy to keep going to class every day. So that's good.
2. I'm starting to kick some ass in the Standing Bow-Pulling pose. Also the Balancing Stick pose. Oh, and Triangle pose is no longer pure torture. (I actually look forward to it. Even though it is the "pinnacle" of the standing series... Or so they say.)
3. I sweat almost immediately upon starting the opening breathing exercises. The more you sweat, the harder your body is working.
4. I am having to take fewer water breaks. I'm able to use the water breaks I do have more efficiently. There's no need to race to the bottle and gulp it down.
5. I'm eating differently. The other night, I went to a 5:30pm class. I didn't get home till almost 8pm. I quickly helped my husband get together a dinner of chicken Tikka Masala for himself. I however was craving yogurt, an apple and an orange. That's all I wanted. And I couldn't even finish it.
6. Yesterday, while walking to class (which is a mile away from my house) my yoga pants started to fall down. So my body is toning up on the bottom. But there is a noticeable difference in my arms, waist and back already.
7. I am 100% more relaxed than I was a month ago. Not much bothers me. I am happy.

So, just over a week left in the challenge. Keeping my fingers crossed that I make it to the end. I'm really glad I made the changes in my life that allowed me to do this. It's done me a lot of good.

Happy Guy Fawkes Day.

It's "bonfire night" people!

I know I'm not a Brit, but I've always been fascinated with the U.K. holiday of November 5th; known as "Guy Fawkes Day."

Visit Wikipedia to learn more about "Guy Fawkes Day."

Product Review: HOT Drinking Chocolate.

I recently got around to seeing the movie Chocolat. This movie came out over six years ago. And since then, I kept hearing about this fantastic hot chocolate brand called MarieBelle. Today when I was out shopping, I saw a display at Neiman Marcus for it. I picked up a tin and saw that it was "Spicy" drinking chocolate.



Hmm... I love spicy foods. I had to taste the "spicy" hot chocolate.

It was a cold night out tonight. The walk home from the movie theater was quite chilly. So minutes after walking through the door of our brownstone, I opened the tin and made some "European" style. That just means it's made with water instead of milk, and is really thick.

It took a good amount of stirring to get all the chocolate nibbly pieces melted. But this stuff is awesome! Very spicy though. It has a kick to it from the ground up ancho chiles in it... But very indulgent and quite a treat!

This Was The Worst Movie Ever... NOT!

My husband and I went on a group date with some friends tonight. First, we ordered some PF Cheng's for dinner at a friend's apartment in Chinatown. Then we walked over to the Loews for the 8:30pm showing of Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan.

This was a truly funny (and mostly offensive) film. Seems like I am not the only one who thought so... Below is a link to reviews for the flick.
Borat Reviews

All showtimes for this evening were sold out. I imagine it will be like that throughout the weekend too. You may want to wait till the weekdays to go see this one. It's likely to be crowded all weekend.

Eating Seasonally. It's Important for Cupcakes Too.

A few weeks back, I was at the South End Buttery getting a cappuccino, when I saw that they had some apple-flavored cupcakes in the display case. It was morning though, and I had a Bikram yoga class in a few hours and decided not to give in to temptation and get one... Though I REALLY wanted one.

Flash forward a few weeks to today. I went to the noon yoga class (number 19 out of the way!), and decided to pop into the "Buttery" for an afternoon pick-me-up before I headed out shopping. Today in the display case were carrot-cupcakes!

Yummy!!!!

Now, I'm a big fan of eating seasonally. I like my strawberries in June. My asparagus in April. My oranges and cranberries in November and December... And of course, Autumn is also good for squashes and root vegetables! So I really only like eating carrot cake around this time of year. Any other time of year, it just isn't right.

It was the best cupcake I have had there. And I've had quite a few. From the minis I ordered for my ex-nasty boss's birthday in August to the Red Velvet one I had back in June... They were all great. But today's was the best.

Now I'm wishing I had gotten the apple one last month when I saw it.

Also, as a side note... I've been drinking cappuccinos from the "Buttery" for a few months now. And today I learned the difference between a "wet" cappuccino and a "dry" one. The barista at the counter told me that a "dry" one means more foam and less milk. That's how I prefer my caps. So it was nice to see a barista who knows how to make a drink. I can't tell you how many times I have been to Starbucks and asked for a cappuccino and gotten a latte.

I wonder what kind of unique cupcake-concoctions I can expect in the near future from the "Buttery." Orange and chocolate????? (That's a great combo. Anyone who's eaten the orange-flavored Milanos knows what I'm talking about.)

It's So Hot!

You know it's Autumn outside... Because inside my apartment, it's boiling hot. (It's as though I am still in the Bikram studio!) The heat was turned on earlier this week; and whenever it is on, it gets really hot in here. So hot, I have to open the windows. I think this is pretty common in Boston apartments though. The buildings are so old, and the heating systems (radiators) are old as well. Once they're on, they're on full speed.

My life is pretty hot, in a matter of speaking.

Service Review: Grettacole

I busted my rear out of bed and over to the yoga studio this morning for the 9am Bikram class. (Day 18 of the challenge now complete!). I got out of bed early and did the yoga without eating or drinking anything today because I had made an appointment for this afternoon for an eyebrow waxing and a haircut at Grettacole, a local upscale chain salon in the Copley.

Now, since moving to Boston over three years ago, I have had my haircut at about six different places. The first two places I had it cut at were on Newbury Street. However, after having a few bad cuts at each (and a bad highlight job and then a bad one-color process to fix it) I made an emergency trip to NYC to have my hair cut at my NYC stand-by for three years, Soon Beauty Lab. (GREAT PLACE IN NYC!) I was getting married in a few months, and I needed my hair cut and trained by the time the wedding rolled around.

However, I knew that I could not rely on going back to NYC every few months just to get my hair cut. But my experiences in Boston were complete crap (and that's me being "nice.") So what's a gal to do?

Then, I realized what part of the problem was. Both stylists I had seen on Newbury Street had gotten their training at the Blaine Beauty School.

Now, if you're not from Massachusetts, you haven't had the privilege of being creeped out by the television adverts for the school. The people featured in the ads (which, sadly, have not been posted on YouTube; otherwise I would share them with you) are some of the scariest (and skankiest) people you may have seen on television that are legitimately real people. These aren't people you want touching your hair. And I left them not only cut it; I also allowed one of them to color it TWICE.

Lesson learned.

So, since then, I have been on a mission to never let anyone who has graduated from that school touch my hair. And I'm not even as vain as most other women about my hair. (I spend maybe five minutes fixing it each morning.) So I've tried three other places in the last two years. And each place was great. But I decided that since I am not so vain about my hair, I didn't need to stick with just one. I could be daring-enough to switch it up every few appointments.

So this brings me to today. Today I tried Grettacole at the Copley. And it was a nice experience.

First, I had my eyebrows done. The lady who did them was fantastic and meticulous. A truly skilled artisan, if I may be so bold. She definitely took her time to get it all right. And it was worth it. I am very happy with my brows and would be inclined to go see her again in January - when I need them done again.

The haircut was a good experience too... The same person who cuts your hair is the same person who washes it; which I hadn't seen done since I got my hair cut at the Super Cuts in Tucson when I was in university and desperate for a trim. Most places now-a-days have a separate hair washer and stylist. But hey, as far as I was concerned; this just meant one less person to tip. The stylist REALLY listened to what I said I wanted: keep the length, thin out the insane thickness, chop the bangs to my nose and style it with the natural wave. The whole haircut only took 45 minutes, which is a record short time for my thick mane. The final result was cute.

So, overall, I would give the Grettacole salon at the Copley an A-... I would definitely go back again... But I'll admit, I was a wee-bit creeped out by the receptionist... She was a little "trying to hard" when it came to greeting and saying good-bye to the guests. It came across as fake. She should play it down a little more. This is New England, after all.

Marie Antoinette: A Shout Out to Chuck Taylors.

I finally got around to seeing Marie Antoinette today. And I wasn't disappointed. It was a visually beautiful film. And it has inspired me to research and learn more about the life of this Queen of France.

The best part of the film was the shoe montage. You got to see some of the alleged 500 pairs of shoes Manolo Blahnik created for the movie... And in one shot of the montage, there was a pale blue Chuck Taylor in the background.



I LOVED it! Sophia Coppola is awesome! I highly recommend this film.

Life Philosophies From The Missus.

It could be all the yoga I've been doing lately, which has allowed me to meditate and focus more easily on my thoughts. It could simply be due to the fact that I no longer spend my days figuring out how I'm gonna squeeze working on an obscene number of clients into a 10-hour day. Whichever or whatever it is due to, the fact remains that I have been giving a lot of thought to my personal life philosophy. By that, I mean what I believe to be important to me for living my life.

So, even though I know it's un-sollicited; here are the things I currently believe in for guiding my life:

1. Never dignify anyone's nasty and un-sollicited comments with a response. Just smile kindly, and avert your attention to something more significant.
2. Limit your work week to 45 hours. Any more than that and it's impossible to have a work-life balance. If your job requires more than 45 hours a week on a regular basis; than it's time to find a new job.
3. Never let anyone question your dedication to something. This used to happen to me all the time at my job... This guy, Chad, would tell me and other people on the team that we weren't dedicated-enough to the job because we weren't enthusiastic about long hours. I would think to myself: "Eff that. My life is more than my job. I must have more in my life than you do." But all I would do is smile and walk away. (And then go dish it out with someone else on the team. LOL!)
4. Eat two fruits a day. It's a great way to get something sweet and to limit the number of calories you take in when you get your sweet fix.
5. Get at 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night. That's the minimum and the maximum you need.
6. Take three bubble baths a week. I have always loved bubble baths. I only allow 20 minutes for them though. Any longer than that, and you're just depleting natural oil from your skin.
7. Make time each week to spend with the other people who live in your space. Whether it's a partner, friend, family member or even an acquaintance you barely know; you need to spend time with them.
8. Do something in public on your own each week. Whether it's a lunch, brunch, dinner, movie or drink at a bar... If you can't enjoy your own company, that's just sad.
9. Don't be afraid to smile to yourself. Others may think you're crazy, but it's actually calming.
10. If you really want something; and it your not hurting yourself or anyone else; don't ever give up until you get it. No one is perfect; and it could take a million tries; but keep going for it.