Best Download Ever: Dress Assistant.

Many, MANY thanks to my friend Wighty for this find...

He sent me a link last night for a super cool download he discovered on the Apple.com site. It's called "Dress Assistant."

Now, some of my friends know one of my guilty pleasures is my "Wardrobe Spreadsheet" on my computer. It's an Excel spreadsheet in which I input every item I purchase for my wardrobe, including when I purchased it and what I payed for it.

I even have a pie chart with all my different categories!



But this new download takes my "secret" passion to a whole new level!

It combines the inputs from my Excel spreadsheet and adds in the following:

• Pictures of every item I own
• Real time weather for my city of choice (So I will know how many layers to pile on before I leave the house)
• Functionality to record combinations of wardrobe elements

This is such a cool tool!

Sneakers In The Sky.

While walking home yesterday, I noticed on a small street in downtown a few pairs of sneakers swung over a light pole.



It takes some good aim and a few tries to get sneakers up that high. Don't ask how I know that.

For Those Of You Not Blessed With Eyelashes...

I am grateful I actually have somewhat long, dark eyelashes. But, my eyelashes feel a little inferior when compared to these...



Apparently its a huge trend in Japan to have insanely large eyelashes. I do like the way they look. But I would never dare try to wear something like this...

At least not in Boston. I'd probably get bi-atch slapped by the trendier folk while walking in the South End if I tried.

"...Because My Chakra-Balancer Said So?"

Tonight's belly dancing class was fun.

The first two classes we have had were focused on teaching us the basic components to belly dancing... Hand rolls. Hip rolls. Shimmies. Hip pops. Head rolls. Basically, they teach you how to simultaneously move parts of your body individually. And it's a lot harder than you think. (And for some reason, my thighs have begun to hurt while in class from all the work.)

Tonight though, at the start of the class, the teacher asked the class why we had decided to take belly dancing instead of something like tap. I was grateful that I was kind of tucked in a corner and she couldn't pick on me. It would have been kind of awkward (and I would have had a lot of explaining to do) to say:

"Because my chakra-balancer said it would be good for me to do."

I'm trying to keep a low-profile.

"Tar-Jay" Does Brides Maid Dresses?

I had no idea... Did you?

Target does bridesmaid dresses?????

Since when?????

Well, since whenever, I think it's a GREAT idea. Sure, there are plenty of beautiful and luxurious bridesmaid dresses out there, but let's face it... They can be quite $$$$. And if you are un-lucky enough to get stuck being the brides maid for three of your friends in ONE summer, you're probably going to be forking out some serious cash for each dress... Which you may never wear again.

And when you combine the cost of the dress with the shoes you have to buy, the hair and make-up the bride-zilla wants you to get done, AND the showers/bachelorette parties you have to help host... It's just too much for you to spend on one friend. Even if they are your VERY best friend.

The prices range from $30 to just over $100. (Super cheap!) And the sizing options are useful. If you need a "2" for one friend, and a "16" for another friend, these dresses have you (and everyone in your bridal party) covered.

Check out this flattering cotton candy frock that (I think) would look fantastic on any size woman!

What The Hell Is Wrong With Her Face?

I used to think Rose McGowan was very pretty... But I was over at AwfulPlasticSurgery.com this evening and caught this photo...



What is wrong with this picture? DID she have a face lift? I'm thinking it was just an eye job. But whatever she had done, it's ruined her "happy" face.

Total fugs.

Don't You Go Working to Hard There Buddy!

A friend IM'd me this afternoon to tell me he was leaving his company.

"Hallelujah for you!" I thought.

It was about time. After being over-looked at his current position and working under a jerk for a while in the past year, this friend totally deserves to move on to better and brighter things. And his new job sounds great! Best part... He'll be able to work from home a lot. And he is overdue on having a better work-life balance.

Which leads me to an article I read on Boston.com this afternoon about employees who work too hard at their jobs. I know first hand about this issue, as I used to do it myself. So did a bunch of people I worked with at the time.

It happens all the time, especially at large firms... Everyone works long hours because that is what gets "charged" into the atmosphere at those places. And then when you don't work the long hours, you get the "you're not committed to the team" speech.

And I will admit, it's a very hard cycle to break out of... I burned myself out and got out of it. But the truth is I could have been less the self-absorbed "martyr" and done it sooner. But what happens is when you start working these long hours (because you are made to feel that is how it has to be), you start to base your career self esteem on it. And that is just foolish.

So don't do that people. As the article says, ultimately, your place of employment is NOT going to appreciate you or give you your full due just because you are working long hours. So why bother?

If people make you feel guilty, just tell them about all the fantastic things you do in your personal time. (Belly dancing, book clubbing, wine classes, made out with an International male super model...) They'll get jealous. But they can't fire you for working 40 hour work weeks.

Bottom line: Long hours are not an acceptable long-term plan. Short-term, perfectly fine. But more than two months? Find a new job... Like my friend.

I Totally Bailed...

On the Latin Groove class tonight. By the time I left wok adn walked all the way home, I was exhausted. Next week. I promise!

Latin Grooviness.

I really like taking dance classes, as they are fun and aerobic.

Last week's belly dancing class (the first one) was awesome. Class two is tomorrow night and I can't wait. Fortunately, I am not the most uncoordinated person in the class. Though, with about nine years of cheerleading experience from my childhood, it's not surprising that I can keep an "eight-count" and have a sense of movement.

Now that I am a member at Equinox, I am going to totally take advantage of all the dance classes they offer... Beginning tonight. Tonight they have a Latin Groove class where you "salsa and samba" to a Latin beat.

Sounds sweet! Can't wait!

Bedroom Beautification.

Well, I did it.

I showed the Husband, and we agreed. We could both live with the bedding I spotted last week and loved. So I bought it.

It should be here later this week. Now maybe my bedroom will be a place I love to hang out in... The white duvet I have on the bed now is just depressing.

Davios: Completely Frumpy.

My husband and I seemed to have struck out the past two years when we dine out to celebrate our May wedding anniversary. (We were originally married in May 2004 at City Hall, but we didn't have a wedding until July 2004. We celebrate both days.)

Last year we ate at Icarus, here in the South End. That place was stuffy. The food wasn't bad... But the ambiance was B-O-R-I-N-G. It's a place (I think) for senior citizens to go and dine. Plus, it seems like a lot of Boston restaurants I go to, the lighting is awful. It's TOO bright. Icarus has awful lighting.

So this year, we vowed to get it right for the May anniversary dinner. But it appears we chose un-wisely.

This year we chose to eat at "Davios." This was bad.

I should have sensed just walking the place, as the front door was difficult for me to open, that we needed to not go in. Then we got to the hostess stand. They were under the impression that we would be a four-top, rather than a two-top. They seemed a little perturbed that we were only "two." But we made the reservation for "two."

"So they can suck it," I thought.

And you can kinda of get the sense as to what kind of ambiance a restaurant is going to have by usually looking at the hostesses/hosts. The hostesses at Davios were frumpy.

One was tall and skinny. She had seriously gelled, curly hair. And she wore a very short black layered skirt and a Lycra whit tube top, with cork edges with white leather straps. It didn't work well together.

Another one wore a suit with a blazer that did not match the fabric of the pants. Both the pants and fabric were black, but each appeared to come from a very different dye lot of wool. Plus, the blazer had sleeves that were way too long for her. And she wore clunky black loafers with it. She was a very fit girl. There are probably a million other things she could wear that are inexpensive and would have looked fabulous on her.

The third hostess was just a "no" period. She wore black capris that were flared; and she paired it with a black velvet blazer that had a "corset" type closure at the wrists. The corset closure was tied with white shoe-string material. It was a bad look.

So we sat for dinner. And I thought Davios was an Italian type place. But they had an eclectic mix of cuisines on the menu. We each had a starter (rocket salad for me and steak egg rolls for the Husband). Then we each had a pasta selection for dinner. Both of our choices were bad.

Mine was very novice... A pasta bolgonese... Which is just pasta with a rich red meat sauce. (I have meat on weekends.) It's not difficult to make. I make a GREAT pasta bolgonese. But the one Davios makes, it was bland." Even my husband though it was "bland." And he has a very plain palette when it comes to food. (Doesn't like anything to rich or spicy.)

The Husband had pasta with chicken, bacon and a cream sauce. It was bland too. So we opted not to even peek at the dessert cart, given that dinner was bad.

And the ambiance at Davios was not ideal. The lighting was not romantic or even platonically intimate. And it tries to be an upscale place, but the table next to us rolled in a Bugaboo stroller with a little (though cute) baby girl. Fine dining places don't exactly scream "kid-friendly" to me.

So I do not recommend eating at Davios. It's generic. And frumpy. My husband and I ate at PF Chang's last night, and our meal was ten times better than the one we got at Davios... And it was about $60 cheaper

To make up for a bad dinner, though, we went over to Finale, a dessert bar just a block away from Davios, afterward. And that was a tasty and cool experience. I definitely recommend Finale. But Davios...

Hell no.

Spring Equinox.

Months back, while walking to Copley, I noticed that a building near the Back Bay T station was going to be adding a, Equinox Fitness.

Equinox is a popular gym chain in NYC. I had quite a few bosses during my career in that city that worked out there. It was always out of my budget, so I never went in the place. But it looked beautiful, even from the outside.

Well, while out and about today, I walked past the gym, and decided to go up and check it out. It was beautiful.

The place just opened this past week. And everything shiny and new. I got a tour of the joint, and there was a lot to see...

• Rows of cardio equipment
• Weight space that's not crowded
• A room with punching bags and gloves
• An insanely beautiful yoga/pilates studio
• A kinesis section
• A spa
• And the most beautiful locker room I have ever seen

This place is beautiful. Much nicer than the Boston Sports Club I have been a member at for 4 years... And neglected to go for months. (The place is always crowded! The machines turn to crap quite quickly. I have to wait to use an machine.)

Because Equinox is new, and on the expensive side, it's pretty empty. And most people seem to go in the evenings, or so I was told. (I'm strictly a morning gym gal.)

The best thing about Equinox, though, wasn't all the amenities it had... (Free razors in the locker room!) It was the selection of classes they offer that won me over..

• Forza! - The Samurai sword fighting class
• Sunrise Yoga - A gentler form of yoga in the AM
• Classic Pilates
• Dance
• Cardio Dance
• Latin Groove Dance
• Inka - A class where you use straps attached to an elevated bar to suspend your body weight

So, I decided to sign up for the gym. Which means I have to cancel my BSC membership. Equinox is about $50 more a month than I am paying at BSC. But with immaculate space and the many options for classes, it's worth it.

As part if my membership, they gave me two free week-long passes for friends. If anyone wants one, let me know. You get to try out Equinox (which is only in Back Bay) for a week for free.

Free People.

One of my favorite stores (which recently opened a location at the Pru) is Free People.

The clothes have a "bohemian" vibe to them... And they're pretty comfortable, as well as colorful. Last week, I bought the "Grecian Apron dress" in the store.



It's super cute with leggings on a colder day... Or without on a hot day like today.

I was over at the Free People website trying to scope out if there was anything new to consider and came across their glossary of fashion terms. It's very useful...

Best Beauty Book.

Over the years, I've bought a couple of beauty books that were interesting reads. But none really contained advice that I felt inspired to follow. Then, a few months back, I picked up the new beauty book, "Allure: Confessions of a Beauty Editor."

Written by the current Allure Editor-In-Chief, Linda Wells, this is a book loaded with true beauty advice. No fluff. It contains true tips for every thing from how to properly wash your face to how to make the most of your massage at the spa. I keep finding myself referencing the pages of the book at least once a week.

This morning I was looking up info on when you should go see a dermatologist to have your skin checked. (I got a bit of a severe sun burn on vacation earlier this month when I forgot to put SPF on my chest area.)

It's a good reference tool to have on hand. I found advice in there that I would have a hard time finding online.

How To Walk In High Heels.

I've done a few posts in the past year about walking in high heels. Now, I came across a YouTube video demonstrating some of the techniques and thought I'd share...

Jordin Sparks... Obese?

Not sure if anyone caught this clip from Fox News last week... But I think the topic is a bit insane.

A representative from the National Action Against Obesity (NAOO) went on Neil Cavuto's show on Fox News Channel to say that Jordin Sparks should not be the next American Idol because (and I quote the crazy lady) "when I look at her, I see heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol... The truth is that if she wants to make it in this business, she is going to have to drop a lot of weight."

Apparently the lady says making Jordin Sparks the next American Idol would be like "endorsing" obesity.

First of all, Crazy Lady, Jordin isn't obese. She is full-figured. According to guesses online, Jordin probably weighs about 200 pounds... But you know what??? She's 6 feet tall! So maybe she could drop about 20 pounds to be in the "healthy" range for her height. But being 20 pounds over a healthy weight does not make one obese. And one can be perfectly healthy and still 20 pounds over weight.

Check out the clip for yourself.



Crazy lady needs to be "bi-atch" slapped.

On Common Ground Podcast.

Okay... So I am not a "technically saavy" person... So I have no idea how this "podcasting" thing is supposed be uploaded...

But with the husband away in Calgary for most of this week, I got bored and put together a podcast. This is my first attempt at creating a podcast, so ideally they will get better. (Keep your fingers crossed!)

Let me know what y'all think.

Thanks!


Subscribe Free Add to my Page

Skully Shoes.

Now, I don't need another pair of shoes. And I wasn't looking to buy any new shoes (and I haven't)... But I am really in love with these...



They're pointed leather flats by Pedro Garcia. But check out the skull brooch stone in the middle!

They are cute. But I can't buy them. I don't need them. And, I already have a few pairs of black flats.

Tanks: A Necessary Staple.

As soon as I get the first hint that Spring is on it's way (such as a day where the temp is above 40 degrees), I start buying up tank tops left and right.

For me, tanks are three-season staple. I wear them Spring through Fall. They are perfect for layering under sweaters and cardigans on cooler days. So as soon as tanks are available in stores, I begin buying up as many as I can.

And this year, I have probably bought about a dozen... All from one place... J. Crew.

J. Crew is probably the best place to find a wide variety of colorful tanks. They pretty much have the entire rainbow. And I have pretty much bought it. And at about $10 a tank, they're totally worth it.

I mean, you can never have enough white tanks.



(Or blue, pink, red, black, cerulean blue, sky blue, kelly green, hot pink, fuchsia, coral, tangerine...)

Flash Forward...

LOST is just an awesome show.

Flash forwards instead of the flash backs we've seen since the start of the series... Such an awesome show.

"I Didn't Believe Him."

LOST is an awesome show. Sayid is a bad ass... Killing that guy with his FEET. And Sawyer is just "killer."

Great show. About time something happened this season!

Acupuncture & The Bad Back.

I was out sick from work work on Monday. I was out sick with a bad back.

On Sunday, I decided to get motivated and set turn our front bedroom into a small office for me to write in. There was a futon and a behemoth 27 inch screen TV I bought back in college in there. I kept the futon where it was, but decided to move the TV all the way through the house into the back dressing room.

The TV had to have weighed over 50 pounds.

So I moved it myself (because husband wasn't around) and ended up straining my lower back, despite using my knees.

I woke up Monday very sore and having issues getting up and out of bed. Even though I do yoga and have a strong back, I shouldn't have tried to move the TV myself. That was just asking for punishment.

So my back was sore all day Monday, into Tuesday. And because I don't take pills for pretty much anything, I was still in pain when I went to my standing acupuncture appointment at Exhale.

My acupuncturist, who is just phenomenal, always starts our sessions off by asking me how things are going and if there were any problems in the previous week. I told her about my back. So when it came time to work on my back side, she pressed areas in my lower back with her hands to gauge where the "tender spots" were. She pressed some needles into the spots and heated some moxa over them. Then she worked on the rest of my back for my usual problems.

It was strange, I got up off the table after the session and put my robe back on. I walked out of the room and it took me a second to realize something was different. My lower back pain was 99% gone!

I'm SO not kidding people!

I still had a little "tweak" of pain on the left side, but I think it may be due to something else, not the furniture moving.

I can't say this enough, acupuncture is a great thing. Actually, all "energy" work is fantastic. And it takes a few sessions of it to really open up your body to respond to it. But when it does, it's wonderful.

Dental Spa.

I hate going to the dentist. Every time I go, there seems to be major things wrong. And I usually end up in pain.

I never used to hate going to the dentist, but in the past few years, each time I went to one of the big bad dental "factories" (you know, where there are a ton of dentists working there and they push patients in and out and tell you you need 10 things done... It's all about money), I would leave completely pissed off.

Well, not anymore.

I had a check-up with a new dentist this morning. And it was FANTASTIC!

Dr. Geoffrey Davis, who was a referral from another blogger - Miss Kate at The Dish, is the man to see for all your dental needs.

He's located over on Boylston, across from the Hancock Tower. Very convenient. But it wasn't just the convenient location that was great. His "bed side manner" (is that what they call it for dentists as well as doctors?) was second to none.

The office is quiet. And Frabrizio, the office manager, was very kind and on top of things. Plus, they have a dog in the office. One of the sweetest dogs, named "Beemer." And having a dog in the office is really relaxing, let me tell you.

As for the actual dental work done, it was extremely gentle. And efficient. And Dr. Davis uses this "microdermafusion-esque" tool that sandblasts your teeth clean. (I didn't really believe Kate when she wrote about it, but I figured I would experience it for myself first hand.) This tool really makes you feel like your teeth got worked.

And while he was examining my teeth, Dr. Davis noticed some build up that could possibly turn into cavities later on. So he cleaned them out with a drill (which didn't hurt) and sealed them.

Overall, the experience was quick and pleasant. And it was nice to work with a dentist that is more personal and less "manufactured."

Plus, while he was working on my teeth, "Rent" by the Pet Shop Boys (probably my all-time favorite band) was playing. So that won me over too.

Not Too Feminine... Not Too Masculine... Just Right?

Last month I pondered whether I had truly found an ideal bedding set for mine and my husband's bedroom. Most of the feedback I got was that it was WAY too feminine.

I ended up agreeing with you.

But I think I may have found an even better choice, also from Anthropologie. A sky blue and chocolate number!



I think it is much less frou-frou than the last one. I'm not big on the masculine "graphic block" designs that are typically appealing to guys. And simple stripes would be way too boring. So a more masculine color set mixed with a soft design, I think, is a good compromise.

Cashmere Craving.

I know Spring has just really kicked into gear... But I am already craving Fall elements for my wardrobe.

My first craving? Their super yummy cashmere fingerless gloves by Vince.



So delish!

Beauty Update: Creme De La Mer.

Last month I caved to a trend and purchased a pot of Creme De La Mer, the super fancy-schmancy moisturizing cream beloved by celebrities and beauty magazine editors.

My skin was parched, and I was desperate. So I shelled out the cash to try it out for myself. And I wasn't disappointed.

I know, some of you may have been hoping that all the hype about this product was merely just consumers going "ga-ga" for a department store product that smells great but only costs a lot. So I hate to burst your bubble... This stuff is great.

First of all, the cream is so thick. Thicker than the frosting you get out of a can. And that means, you DON'T use as much as you think you have to. Just grabbing a pinch and warming it between your finger tips (as instructed by the make-up counter lady) was more than enough to dab all over my face.

That's right, I wrote "dab." Because that's all you do. You don't rub it into your skin. You take the tips of your fingers and allow them to "dance" the cream all over your face and neck.

Secondly, the cream is very think. (I know, I wrote that before.) And it really does a great job of locking in moisture on your skin, making it soft... Like a kitten's bottom (only not hairy.) I didn't really have any fine lines to begin with (because I wear an SPF on my face every day), but any I may have had forming certainly aren't showing anymore.

Though, I should note, while I am very happy with the product, I will probably try the version specific for oily skin the next time I buy it. I have "combination" skin... And the full-moisture version has been great over most of my face... But I do have to dab less of it on in some areas that aren't as dry.

The Girl In The Flying Trapeze Top.

I'm a very lucky girl. I can dress very casually for work. And because of this, I seem to find myself buying clothes that are suitable for work and weekend all the time.

My latest addition is this summer-y trapeze top by Vince, which I picked up at Neiman Marcus. (After having dropped my orange mocha on the carpet there... Possibly splattering lots of white clothes... Opps!)



It's such a cute top, and is "machine washable." (This is so key.) It looked great over jeans and shorts... And I can even imagine it layered over leggings and a long-sleeve shirt in the Fall.

Vince is a great line. Everything is comfortable. You should check it out.

Limey Lara.

Discovered a new yummy treat I LOVE today...

Key Lime Larabars!



About two years ago, I was introduced to these all natural dried fruit and nut bars. They are non-dairy and vegan... Which sounds like they'd be totally crap; but they are not. They are delicious! And the newest one, the Key Lime flavor, is so good.

These are a fantastic snack to munch on mid-afternoon. I picked mine up at Whole Foods. But you can find them at Shaw's and sometimes at corner bodegas.

Snake Charmer.

According to Chinese astrology, I was born in the year of the Snake. Even though I am quite afraid of these cold-blooded animals in real life, I do find them fascinating. And as such, I have been really attracted to all the snake jewelry that has been popping up lately.

Most of the jewelry has been priced higher than what I would like to spend. But while out shopping yesterday, I came across an easily affordable version of a snake bangle at Urban Outfitters.



Very stylish and charming. And only $24! UO is a great pace for accessories. I buy most of my accessories at either UO or H&M. Cheap and chic!

Hmm... Cupcakes.

Ran over to the Buttery this morning to grab breakfast for us... And to my surprise, they had mini cupcakes in the display case again!

Yummy!

They also had red velvet cupcakes too. And though they had a few of my favorites available, I didn't get any. I'm trying not to eat too many sweets anymore.

But if they have them next week, I'm so getting some!

My Favorite Flowers.

I'm kinda picky when it comes to flowers. I don't like roses really. And lilies aren't all that great for me either. (Too messy with the pollen!) I tend to love cheaper flowers... Carnations. Daisies. Tulips are lovely too.

But the one flower I do love that can be quite expensive is the peony. (Preferably pronounced "pee-a-knee.") They are on the expensive side (about $8 a stem) and are only available in the Spring. (I tried to get them for my late July wedding nearly three years ago, but could not. No matter how much I offered to pay.)

Today was the first day I was able to find a good few stems, which I located at Winston's on Boylston. And they are beautiful!



I can't believe I found coral peonies! Those are really difficult to find! Winston's even had a deep burgundy color too. But the coral peonies are my absolute favorite. So I took two (on the verge of blooming) and two white peonies (in bloom).

I may just buy some every week throughout the rest of the Spring. This is the only time of year you can really get them.

Numerology: Year 7.

I seem to find myself running into various combination of numbers repeatedly in my life; more so lately.

For instance, I often see triple and quadruple ones (111 or 1111) and triple threes (333). I see this combination a few times a day usually. It could be the address on a building. Or the clock reading the time. Or the page number of a book. In fact, while writing this blog just now, the auto draft in blogger noted "Draft autosaved at 11:11 PM."

Another number I keep running into, though I have all my life, is the number seven. I was born in 1977. In numerology, my personal number is seven; as the month and day I was born on add up to seven.

One thing I learned while on my vacation last week was that I am currently in a "Seven Year." In Numerology, life runs on a nine-year cycle. When I turned 30, here in 2007, (another seven!) I began my seventh year in my current cycle.

The seventh year in the cycle is a year of "analysis and understanding." It's the year in the cycle when you take a look at the previous active year (which, let's face it, last year was... the sixth year tends to be) and the upcoming active one (the eighth year.) You do a lot of introspective analysis and reflection on what your life is and where you need to be going.

They told me the best thing I can do in this year is separate myself from too much extra responsibility. Because I will need to do a lot of meditation, writing, studying, research, etc, during this time. They say business pressures should be easy. And that's not going to be a year that is big on "action." It has to be a year of focusing purely on "me." (Or "mostly," anyways.)

They warned me though, "Year seven is when people tend to fall into a depression... With all the questioning." So that's why it is best to really free up any unnecessary attachments on yourself. The less you have draining your energy, the better.

Of course this doesn't mean you should "86" friends and significant others from your lives though! It just means you will probably spend less time with them than you did in the previous year.

So I find it amusing that earlier this year I declared 2007 as the "Year of Me." And it's also worth noting that I managed to purge my energy-draining job late last year; subconsciously in preparation (perhaps?) for this year of self-meditation. And the acupuncture and healing treatments I have been doing a lot of (hydrotherapy and yoga challenges) could also be considered a preparation for entering this seventh year.

Oh! And the giving up of meat (for the most part)... That could be a subconscious preparation too. So many animals receive ethically questionable treatment to become our food... It is best that I eat fewer things that have so much negative energy running through them. (I'd rather eat happy animals. Still no poultry, pork or veal though. Uck!)

I did manage to set-up myself, prior to entering this seventh year, with a job that is much more manageable for me to take on the personal challenges I have this year.

So it seems like this is definitely supposed to be a "selfish" year of sorts.

Looking at another family member's numerology stats, I realized they too are in a seventh year. They experienced similar changes in their life late last year... Prior to entering their seventh year.

Good news for us both; the eighth year in the cycle (which we will each begin on our birthdays) is the year of "attainment and capital gains." So, essentially, after having done so much reflection in the seventh year, things will pay off in the eighth year.

Want to know how to figure out your personal year in the cycle? It's super easy... Simply add together the digits of the last birthday you had, till they equal one number.

Here's mine as an example: April 12, 2007. 4+1+2+2+0+0+7= 7

My family member's: October 25, 2006. 1+0+2+5+2+0+0+6= 7

New Style Blog.

Boston.com launched a new "style blog" earlier this week. Don't know if anyone else has caught up with it, but it is a good read.

I have to give them "props" with it too... The blog appears to only be three days old, and they've already had 10 postings. Now that's awesome. I'm a fan of bloggers who do their best to follow the rule of blogging that you need to post frequently.

Stupid Blogger.

I know... I know... I shouldn't complain... Blogger is free and all... And it's tools are pretty cool. But it's really messed up that for a half an hour I could not access my own blog on the "intertubes."

I kept getting this error message. Stupid blogger.

Opting Back In: Demand Equality & Flexibility.

Was reading the Styles Section this morning and came across an article on what has become a repetitive topic in the media lately... "Moms, the work place and 'opting back in.'"

In this article, the writer says that the idea of moms being able to opt back in to the work force more easily is wonderful. (And I agree!) But, that the movement is still in its infancy. And employers are often "all talk" and "no walk."

From the article:
"So I am too jaded to believe that this small handful of trendsetters will bring transformation overnight. They will not change the fact that too many employers still look at a résumé gap as a disqualifying mark; or that women who leave and return pay an average 18 percent salary penalty compared with those who never pause; or that men feel constrained from asking for flexibility because it carries a stigma; or that the only way to eliminate the stigma is for men to start to ask."

An 18% penalty... YIKES! And I agree that men SHOULD start aggressively asking for the same flexibility that women are asking for from an employer. Again, a kid has two parents, not just one. When you become a parent, you both should be asking for flexibility when it come to the parental duties.

Demand flexibility people. You can do it. If you're denied, there's always another job out there waiting... Or there will be in a few years when the workforce experiences its labor shortage.

Skanky Hair.

Oh Britney... You just won't ever get it together, will you?

Check out the latest picture of her hair!

I have a few questions for Brit...

1. Why would you die your hair the color of urine? Is pee hair in?


2. Also, are you running out of money? Because I would figure that you could afford to buy good quality hair extensions that at least lie flat... And not frizz up.

The hair does NOT look natural. It just looks fried, damaged and bad

Pineapple Mask.

While standing in the check out at Sephora a couple of weeks ago, I noticed their new set-up of "impulse items" designed to entice you on your wait.

Genius idea, Sephora. It totally worked on me. I found one item that was reasonably priced and worth a try... Murad's Exfoliating Fruit Enzyme Mask To Go.



Not only is does thing smell incredibly delicious smelling, it feels wonderful on my skin. I can feel the tingling, and my skin feels refreshed after using it. After I typically throw on a mask, my skin just feels dry, and I have to pile on the moisturizer. With this mask, there was no dehydration.

A pack of four masks is only $10. It's a quick and easy pick-me-up. They would make a great "beauty bag" gift inclusion for a friend. Or even a stocking stuffer! (Though Christmas is seven months away.)

The Three Wise Monkeys.

I don't typically do much shopping when I go on vacation. (Believe it or not!) I've gone to Rome and not gotten any fine leather or wine. I went to Paris and did not come back with any new shoes or handbags. And in the Turks, we just rested on the beach. So there were no shops in sight.

But from the spa vacation last week, I did manage to come back with something for our home. Some monkeys.



I was walking past a boutique in the little shopping area of the resort, called "El Pedregal," and found these little creatures in the window. They were just too cute to pass up!

They're hand carved wood monkeys displaying the "see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil" principle.

The lady who owned the store had a bunch of different sets on display that were collected during her childhood. She explained that the three wise monkeys together ward off evil from entering your home. Ideally, you would carve the monkeys above the door to your home. (A wooden carving of the monkeys on a board that I could hang above my home entrance would make a great gift... Hint. Hint.)

I think they're adorable. My husband thinks they're scary. But he scares easily.

Five Minute Face?

I'm always running into articles, in magazines and online, that talk about how women don't need to spend 20 minutes putting on their make-up in the morning. They usually go on and on about how women can shave time of their morning beauty routine by following a "five-minute" application.

I'm confused though... It only takes me about three minutes (TOPS) to put on my make-up in the morning. Am I doing something wrong?

I came across another one of these postings online today. As I was reading through the breakout of the make-up application, I was startled to see that women spend almost a full minute applying mascara and another full minute lining their eyes!

Does it really take some women that long to do that? I spend maybe 20 seconds in total on both things combined. And my foundation? Well, I use mineral powder, and that only takes me about 20 seconds to layer on. And 30 seconds to get on your blush? That takes maybe 10 seconds for me.

If make-up took any longer than this to apply in the morning, I probably just wouldn't wear it. Too high-maintenance!

Belly Dancing.

One of the comments the healer made when she was balancing my chakras last week was that I should take up belly dancing.

I'm serious.

Apparently, when the healer was cleansing my sacral chakra, one of the images she pulled out was of me belly dancing in an orange skirt. She said that it would be "healing" to me to take up belly dancing.

I've always wanted to learn belly dancing. So I've signed up for a course at the BCAE that begins next Wednesday night. Can't wait!

The Last One Graduates.

We spent most of Friday with my family in Phoenix (away from the resort) to celebrate my sister’s graduation from university.

She’s the youngest of the four kids in the family… And now she is all done with school, and is out into the real world to support herself. She’s gonna be a teacher, somewhere within the early education years.

It’s kind of scary though, when I think about it. She was born in 1985. I remember the night she was born. (My Dad left us other three children alone in our military housing apartment to go with my mom to the hospital. The oldest was 11 years old. I was seven. The youngest was four. We piled into my parents’ bed and slept through most of the night. My dad came home early in the morning and told us we had a redheaded baby sister. The rest of us had dark brown hair… Including my parents.)

Well, 1985 wasn’t that long ago people. And it’s just a wonder how quickly time flies by in life. I remember teaching my sister how to talk and give people “the finger.” And it doesn’t seem like that was all that long ago.

Time flew by quickly and in a blur… But I am sure she still remembers some of the words I taught her… And I KNOW she still remembers how to give people “the finger” when she needs to.

Thank God it’s not me going out there to educate children in early education. (Congrats M! You’ll be a great teacher!)



(M & J, my siblings. Still incognito with the sunglasses.)

Another Healthy Spa Lunch.

The food at this resort has been very good overall. I was able to chow down some yummy fish tacos this afternoon by the pool.



It was even better than the "Spa Pizza" I had earlier in the week.



The presentation of food at this place is simple but amazing.

The Husband ordered his standard club sandwich (which is pretty much the only thing he orders for lunch anywhere). I was sneaking some fries from his plate… And I accidentally took down a small piece of bacon that fell off of his sandwich into the pile of crisp starchy goodness. I gagged immediately.

I remember when I used to think there was nothing finer in the world than cuisine that contained bacon. Now, I find the smell and the taste painful.

But the tacos kicked ass.

Energy Work.

I had three treatments done today during my "spa day."

I started the day off at the spa first though with a round of steaming, sauna-ing and then soaking. The spa recommends everyone come prior to their appointments and "purify" yourself. You start off with five minutes in the steam room. Then you hop in a cold shower. You follow that up with some water. Then you head into the sauna for five minutes. And you take another cold shower. Drink another glass of water. Then you soak in the Japanese soaking tub.

It was a relaxing way to gear up for my massage, which was the first of my three treatments for the day. However, because I had drunk so much water, about 35 minutes into the massage, I had to pee really badly. So I had to get off the table and go pee, then come back for another 20 minutes while the masseuse finished the massage.

The next treatment up was my chakra balancing. And that was so cool! I loved it. I won't go into the details as to what kind of energy I was giving off... But the gist of the treatment is: You lay on a treatment table with your eyes closed. The healer goes through each of your seven chakras and places crystals on your body that correspond to each chakra. Then Reiki is incorporated to move some of the energy out of your chakras. Tuning forks are also used. I felt very relaxed after the session. And I noticed some really interesting sensations in certain parts of my body where I have had problems.

The last treatment of the day was the hypnotherapy session. This was cool too. Not as cool as the chakra balancing though. I did "go under." Some people don't. Some people are completely awake when they go through hypnotherapy. I drifted off, as I was laying on a table with the therapist talking in a quiet monotone. After the session, I felt really relaxed. It was a great feeling.

Between the sessions, I laid out by the pool, grabbed a spa lunch (a pizza with only 330 calories!) and read books. Tomorrow I am spending with my family. But I will be doing another relaxing day on Saturday.

I very much like spa vacations. But next time I go on one, I probably will only book sessions of things I can't get done back home in Boston. I had a facial yesterday that was good. And the Numerology session was good too. (I can now do other people's numbers too.) But I wouldn't do a massage the next time I do this. Those I can done back home. And they're not really different or unique form one place to the next.

Spa Day.

I am loving this vacation thing. I spent all day over at the spa at the resort. And I won't lie... It was awesome.

But before heading over the spa, I ordered up a healthy breakfast for my husband and I.



And I was able to get a couple of shots in of the sunrise.



And the name of the resort is "The Boulders." It's amazing... These boulders look like they could fall at any moment on you.



This has been a great vacation. Just a few days left though. (Boo hoo!)

Is John Locke Dead???

I was so tired last night, after having gotten up so early to fly out here yesterday, that I couldn't stay up to watch LOST last night. So I watched it on ABC.com this morning.

WTF???

Is John dead? I love John. He's my favorite character. He can't be dead. I'll be crushed if he is. What do y'all think????

We're Here!

We arrived successfully here in Carefree, Arizona. (Nice name for a town that has a luxury spa resort.)

It's about 5:45pm Arizona time. The resort is in full desert bloom.

And there are animals every where. Especially bunnies, quail, black birds, lizards and even a mallard duck!









One word of advice though people... When you rent a car, make sure you ask what kind of car it is they are giving you before you sign for it.

I asked for the economy compact car, thinking it would be a small car. Instead, this is what I got...



I don't even know what the hell kind of car this is. I know it's a Chrysler. And that it has blind spots like Paris Hilton has Herpes outbreaks. (You know... All over the place.) But it got us from Point A to Point B. So that's all that ultimately matters.

Gentlemen Do Not Always Prefer Blondes. They Prefer Confident Women. Duh.

Was reading a grouping of blogs over at iVillage just now. Came across this posting from one blogger about why she thinks gentlemen tend to prefer blondes.

I don't think they do. I think SOME guys prefer blondes. But I know lots of guys who ADORE red heads. And I even know guys who prefer brunettes or even gals with black hair. ("No eff-ing way!" you say? Believe it, yo.)

The writer of the blog entry isn't a natural blonde. She bleaches her hair. And I think that is maybe where her belief that men prefer blondes stems from... Think about it...

When you change something on yourself, you tend to feel great about it. Whether you bleached your hair blonde, dyed it darker or chopped it all off... You often feel a shift in your confidence. And I think that's what it is about blondes. A lot of women who have blonde hair bleach their hair that way.

I mean, if you're high maintenance enough to bleach your hair or even color it darker on a regular basis (which can be a painful and expensive process), it damn well better make you feel good about your self. Otherwise, you got screwed.

So here's to doing whatever it is you need to do make you feel confident. (For me, it's coloring my gray hairs every two months. Yes, I had them long before 30.)

Bags Are Packed... Vacation Is Almost Here!

We are PUMPED! My husband and I that is...

By this time tomorrow (Arizona time), we will have arrived in Phoenix. I will have had a session of Numerology and a facial, and my husband will have had a Reiki session.

Our bags are pretty much packed. Our flight leaves at 6am tomorrow. So we will be up and out the door by 4:30am. We're flying Delta this time. (American Airlines can continue to kiss my ass... As they suck more than any airline could ever suck.) So we should have no problems getting checked in.

I never vacationed much as a child. Or until I turned 27 and got married, for that matter. But I am definitely picking up the whole "vacationing and relaxing" thing. Best of all, with my current job, I can actually go on vacation and BE on vacation. No work!

It's only 14.5 hours till take-off. Yay!

Someone Needs To Invent It: A Bikram Yoga Sweaty Clothes Bag.

At the end of each yoga practice I face a dilemma.

I can either throw all my sweaty clothes into a water-proof pocket in my yoga bag. Or I can grab a plastic bag from the roll the yoga studio offers and throw them into that, and then put the bag into my yoga bag.

Now, I don't like throwing my sweaty towel and clothes directly into the pocket in my yoga bag because after a while it begins to stink. When you practice a few days a week, and walk home for 30 minutes after each practice, things begin to smell. Then I have to turn my yoga bag inside out (which ain't easy) and do a couple of "spray and air dry" rounds with my tea-tree oil and water mixture. That is time consuming, and to be honest, it doesn't always work well. And I can't throw the entire yoga bag into the washer.

The simple solution is, of course, to just use one of the plastic bags offered by the studio... But this conflicts with my whole resolution to minimize the number of plastic/paper bags I use.

So there's my dilemma.

About a week ago I began looking around online and in stores here in the city to see if there was some kind of reusable waterproof bag that I could throw into my yoga bag. Ideally, it would be something that I could throw into the wash with my yoga clothes each week. But so far, I haven't found anything specific to athletes that works. And that surprises me.

Someone needs to come up with a pouch that is waterproof, machine washable and convenient enough to hold a few clothes and throw into a larger bag.

The only thing I have found that suits my needs is this swimsuit bag I found on Amazon.com. I think I will just go ahead and buy it.

It's Damn Fine Coffee.

I am surrounded in downtown by a plethora of coffee choices. I have Green Mountain, Seattle's Best, Dunks, and (of course) Starbucks. With Dunks and Starbucks, there are a ridiculous amount of locations... All within mere feet of each other.

However, today I branched out from my usual Starbucks crappy made cappuccino and ventured blocks out of my way to go to one of my all time faves... Peet's Coffee & Tea.

Not only do they make fantastic cappuccinos, but Peet's is the one place in downtown where I can get in and out quickly with my cup. I was in and out in three minutes during today's visit. I'm usually at Starbucks for a full 10 minutes. So the shorter time was worth it to go out of my way.

Another great thing about Peet's is it's website. I like that they give definitions of what specific drinks are... They don't do that at Starbucks.

I still like Starbucks though... But I think I will begin hitting Peet's more often. The coffee is just too good. And you can't underestimate the value of a properly made cappuccino.

Pot Luck Fun.

Back at one of my old jobs, we had a very cool tradition going. Every Friday, someone on the team would bring in breakfast. Whether you picked it up or made it by hand, if it was your designated week, you brought in enough breakfast for the whole team... Which at the time was about 13 people.

Well, since I left, that team has now grown to over 20 people. I don't know if they still do the breakfast thing... But I imagine it is quite a burden now having to cover for that many people.

Well, one of my former co-workers (KT) just sent me this link that feature's some other companies potluck dishes. And some of them look like they were imagined after having a whole lot of pot... And not much luck.

My favorite is the casserole with tots on the top.

Though, I'm not quite sure I understand why there is a grill featured in the picture.

Anyone have a guess?

Hmm... Beef.

Yes, I ate some meat this weekend. And today. Red meat, to be specific. I began craving it again. But I am off poultry and pork. (Blech!)

I had four mini-hamburgers yesterday for dinner. But I did have a slight stomach ache after eating them. But they tasted too good to pass up.

Rice Krispies In His Ear?

The next time my ears "pop"... I'm gonna be a little worried. This story FREAKED me out!

Rice Krispies? Actually, spiders in boy's ear

'They were walking on my eardrums,' 9-year-old from Oregon says

The Associated Press

Updated: 8:33 p.m. ET May 6, 2007

ALBANY, Ore. - These guys weren’t exactly Snap, Crackle and Pop.

What began as a faint popping in a 9-year-old boy’s ear — “like Rice Krispies” — ended up as an earache, and the doctor’s diagnosis was that a pair of spiders made a home in the ear.

“They were walking on my eardrums,” Jesse Courtney said.

One of the spiders was still alive after the doctor flushed the fourth-grader’s left ear canal. His mother, Diane Courtney, said her son insisted he kept hearing a faint popping in his ear — “like Rice Krispies.”

Dr. David Irvine said it looked like the boy had something in his ear when he examined him.

When he irrigated the ear, the first spider came out, dead. The other spider took a second dousing before it emerged, still alive. Both were about the size of a pencil eraser.

Jesse was given the spiders — now both dead — as a souvenir. He has taken them to school and his mother has taken them to work.

“It was real interesting, ‘cause, two spiders in my ear — what next?” Jesse said.

© 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Spiderman 3: It Kinda Sucked.

Decided to skip yoga today and spend the afternoon with my husband at the movies.

We were both fans of the last Spiderman movie. So, naturally, we were pumped to check this one out.

I won't lie though, people... This one was bad. There were too many villains. And the story was all over the place. And the cheese factor was kicked up to 11.

To top it off, the damn thing was about 45 minutes too long.

I only recommend seeing this film if you were a big fan of the previous ones and feel like you have to complete the trilogy.

God help them if they decide to make another sequel in the series. If they do, they better get someone who can actually write to develop the story.

You're Not Getting Any Sympathy From Me.

Was just over at TMZ watching this video where Paris Hilton tells the paparazzi that she was "treated unfairly" and "doesn't deserve" to go to jail.

Umm... Sorry bi-atch, but yes you do.

I will admit it... I've never been a fan of Paris Hilton. I've never watched her show. I did like one of her songs last summer. But overall, I'm not fan. And she's not going to get any sympathy from me for "telling the truth" on the stand at her hearing on Friday.

In case you've been living in a vacuum, Paris Hilton was sentenced to 45 days in jail for driving on a suspended license; stemming from a drunk driving incident last fall.

Paris claimed that she was unaware that she was not supposed to be driving, and that her "mouthpiece" (PR guy), Elliot Mintz, told her she was allowed to drive.

Paris, dear, most PR people don't have legal degrees. You should have met with your lawyers personally and gotten the full information.

Ignorance is not a reason to go easy on someone when it comes to the law. And the law would not go easy on most people who gave the same reason as she did.

For example... About 10 years ago, when I was in university, I was pulled over while driving down Speedway Blvd. in Tucson. It was evening. I was on my way to a club for a Fiona Apple concert.

The cop asked me why I thought he pulled me over.

"Umm, speeding?" I asked.

"Yes," said the copper. "And you were tailgating the person in front of you."

I didn't disagree. I was driving aggressively.

He asked me for my license and registration.

I handed him my registration. But I didn't have my license at the time. I had lost it.

The cop handed me my ticket and said, "Here's your ticket. Now, I'm cutting you come slack. If you go to the DMV tomorrow, get a new license, photo-copy it, and send it in with the ticket, I'll dismiss the ticket."

I thanked him and did exactly what he had asked the very next day.

Fast forward about five months, and my Dad gets a notice in the mail that says my license has been suspended. He called me laughing, and asked me what I had done. He told me the date that was listed in reference in the suspension, and that it was for failure to pay a ticket. I reminded him about the ticket I had gotten being pulled over. (I don't keep much secret.)

Turns out, the cop didn't mean he would dismiss the speeding ticket. He meant he would dismiss the citation for not having my license on me. But he never once mentioned that when he gave me the ticket. He never said he was citing me for not having my license. He only mentioned the speeding ticket.

So, despite telling the truth to the DMV about the traffic incident, they still made me pay the $500 to get my license back. It didn't matter what the cop didn't or did say. It only mattered that I had committed an infraction. So I had to pay. And $500 for a student is a lot of money.

So I have no sympathy for Paris Hilton. Ignorance doesn't make you exempt.

Good Luck In The Kitchen.

Just saw this kitchen timer over at Anthropologie.com.

It's a Rooster. And according to European lore, you're supposed to keep a rooster in your kitchen to bring you good luck and prosperity. I currently have two roosters in my kitchen. But I could always use one more.

Plus, I broke my Alessi kitchen timer this morning while cleaning.

Useful When Wearing New Shoes!

This item is a "MUST-HAVE!"

I can't even begin to tell you how many times I have shredded the area around my Achilles Heel when wearing brand new shoes.

You know how it happens... You're wearing new shoes that haven't been stretched out quite yet. The tight shoes rub against the back of your feet. The skin gets burned from the rubbing. Bloody massacre of the Achilles Heel is the final result.

This phenomenon not only ruins your feet, it also ruins you shoes. I have personally blood-stained the inside of new shoes (my Chloe White Buckle Flats). So you can understand why I am so happy about the new Band-Aid Blister Block.



This is a stick that you swipe over the back of your ankles and feet (and anywhere else) where you tend to get blisters from your shoes. Consumer feedback on the item so far is that you do need to apply the stick a few times during the day, but that overall it works very well.

I've put my order in with Drugstore.com today. It's on back order right now. But should be here in time for Memorial Day, when I plan on wearing lots of sandals.

It's Totally Cherry.

I haven't worn a watch in a couple of years. The last one I wore was a hot pink Swatch my husband bought me. I wore the crap out of it. Within a few months, the band had broke.

I never bothered to replace the watch, because my history with watches is kinda spotty. I wear them for a few months, then they break or get lost.

But despite my checkered past with watches, I have found myself contemplating getting this Marc Jacobs Cherry Watch on a Chain.




It's adorable. And very Spring-y. Hmm...

You Must Floss Regularly...

According to this information, people who read blogs tend to be regular flossers.

And the average commute for blog readers tends to be 20 minutes round trip.

Boo-Boo.

Has a wee bit of an accident last night. While cooking dinner, I sliced my finger really badly chopping a tomato. (What's with me and tomatoes lately?)



The cut wasn't straight down... But it was deep, and at an angle. I had never cut myself like this before (**at least not since I was five years old) and didn't quite know what to do. So I simply wrapped it in a cloth and kept cooking dinner for another 20 minutes.

When i was done prepping dinner, I got online and looked up what I was supposed to do for the finger. Apparently I was supposed to clean off the blood (which I did), wrap it up (which I did), keep steady pressure applied to it (which I did NOT do), and keep it above my heart to stop the blood flowing out (which I also did NOT do.)

Opps.

Eventually it stopped bleeding. But the slightest thing seems to re-ignite the blood flow, even today. I've had to change the dressing a few times this afternoon. And I couldn't work out because of it.

That'll learn me.

(**When I was five years old, I was staying at my grandmother's house. She had a lemon tree in her backyard. A neighbor boy - also about five - was playing outside with me and wanted on of the lemons cut for him. So I picked a lemon, went into the kitchen and grabbed a steak knife. I took it outside and began slicing the lemon.

I nicked myself right away, on I think the same finger I did yesterday. I ran into my grandmother's pink bathroom in the back of the house quietly shrieking and squirting blood droplets EVERYWHERE.

My mother heard " a commotion" and decided to come to the back and check out what was going on. She came into the bathroom and asked me what I was doing.

"Nothing," I said, as I was slopping the blood from my finger with a light wash cloth. "Nothing. I'm not doing anything."

I always was more of a "fix it myself" kind of person. Didn't want to bother anyone else.)

Tomato SPLAT!

Last week, a co-worker of mine discovered a new office distraction for us... The "tomato splatter." (Or, at least that's what I call it.)



It's this "stress ball" type toy in the shape of a tomato. It's filled with a liquid. And when you throw against a flat service (particularly a window), it "splatters..." Just like a real tomato.

Then it peels off and returns to it's original shape.

It's very cool. And it's fun to throw it at the glass doors on meeting rooms while people are in there having a discussion.

Yes, we are a little too easily amused in my office. But that's all right.

The Fashion Police Hit Downtown.

One of the joys of working in Downtown Crossing is all the crazy people watching you can do. Especially when your office is above the Borders Bookstore, and you sit near floor to ceiling windows that allow you to take in all the sights below...

Yesterday, our quiet office was interrupted by an impromptu fashion show put on in the Borders courtyard by Marshalls.

The usual God-fearing-preacher/screecher guy had competition from five ladies, a DJ and an emcee showing passersby what Marshalls had to offer. (The outfits were cute. It was a nice idea. Two hours later, I saw them in front of the public library on my way home.)

Today though, Marshalls was at it again... Only this time the store had women dressed up as "fashion police" passing out "citations" to passersby.



At first, when they handed me the "citation" (which was really just a coupon for the store), I was a wee bit offended. I was really happy with my outfit for the day... Paige denim jeans, Marc Jacobs top, Chloe cream flats, Marc Jacobs bag, H&M sunglasses... But then I realized they were handing them out to everyone. So I decided to not take it personally.

They May Say They're Hiring Mums...

Came across this article on Boston.com just now that relates to my earlier posting...

Sure, many companies say they're hiring mums... But in what positions? And what industries? And these companies that say they are "actively recruiting" mums... Are they offering flexible work-lifestyles?

I think this article provides further evidence that women tend to be the primary caregivers for their children even when they do work... And that is BS in this day and age.

I could be wrong... But then why didn't the article say anything about the salary equivalents of working fathers?

I'd like to give the article "props" though on using "stay-at-home mothers" as opposed to "full-time mothers." Nothing pisses me off more than when you see "full-time mother" or "full-time father" used as a title... It implies that when a parent does work, they aren't a parent all the time. Only "part-time."

Women... Why Do You Keep Giving Up So Much?

How funny... The Boston Globe had an article this afternoon about women dropping out of the legal partnership career path at an alarmingly higher rate then men. It's "funny" because I just got done reading "The Feminine Mistake" by Leslie Bennetts this week.

The article says that the biggest reason appears to be women having to choose between the partner career path and having a family.

I agree, that probably is the biggest reason. And I think it is bull-shite.

Why should women have to choose? Men don't have to; at least not as often. Why do women have to be the ones to traditionally opt out of a strong career path in order to have a family? Last time I checked, it took elements from two people to create a kid. So why is it that women tend to be the ones to give up more in order to produce a family?

I know the argument well, as I have been reading a lot of material in the past year on it... When you have a kid, should one parent stay home and raise the kid?

Sometimes there isn't a choice. Both parents have to work. But then there's that argument where people conclude that it wouldn't be financially worth it to have both parents work, with the child care costs... So one parent stays home. And then there are those people that conclude that because one person makes so much more than the other, it seems "Why bother having the other spouse work? " (This last one is the one you see with the more financially "well-off" couples.)

But I guess my question to women out there is (and "thank you" Leslie Bennetts for helping me realize this), "Why should you give up your career just to stay home with your kids?"

Even if your family can have a nice life with only one spouse working, why do it? Especially if you like your job, enjoy the day-to-day interaction you get, and if you like the financial independence. So WHAT if the cost of childcare ends up being such a large chunk of your monthly costs?

I, personally, can't put a price on proper job satisfaction. The financial independence and feeling of contributing to a household... Along with knowing I am contributing to the success of the company I work for... These are good things. And even with a child, I wouldn't give them up.

Another frightening statistic I learned about in Leslie Bennetts' book was the lack of women not realizing that by stepping out of the work force, even if it was just for a few years, they were more often than not preventing themselves from furthering their career at an ideal pace when they did step back in.

Many of the women she spoke to in the book (and the studies she researched) showed that women didn't realize that by stepping out of the work force meant that when they eventually came back, they would be lucky to step back in at the financial level they left at.

I guess I just don't understand why women tend to be the ones to give up so much professionally and financially when it comes to having children.

Funny enough, a co-worker in my office and I were having a conversation about being able to work from home if you had children. The business I work in certainly allows for people to telecommute, but the business doesn't really want people to have that option. (Yet, anyways.)

Well, this co-worker, who has children, was going on and on about how the woman tends to be the one taking care of most of the child-rearing and household management... Even when both spouses work.

"You know that woman does most of the work!" she said.

Well, "eff that." That's what I say, and that's what women need to start saying. Parenting is a two-person job. And I'm not giving up my financial independence. I would rather teach my children that it's both parents' jobs to provide and take care of the family.

I highly recommend reading Leslie Bennetts' book. Then form your own opinion. It was an excellent read.

Police Chase Prompts Surge Of Helicopters In Downtown.

Got an IM from a friend of mine working in a taller building here in Downtown Crossing.

"What's with all the copters?"

I could only hear them, not see them, as I am on the third floor of my building... And he is on the 12th.

Eventually he found online what the deal was... We had us a good old fashioned police car chase here in Beantown just a little while ago.

It started in Charlestown and ended around Storrow Drive, when the car hit a cab. Luckily, no one was hurt.

Seriously though, wht the eff would you attempt to out-run the cops in Boston via motor vehicle? Sure, it might make sense, as there is so much traffic, you could easily blend in and get lost... But on the flip side, it's eff-ing difficult to drive in Boston... ESPECIALLY when rush-hour is approaching.

I've only driven in Boston once... But I know enough to know you don't attempt to out-run the law like the Duke Boys during rush hour on a sunny day.