Balenciaga Arena Giant Envelope Clutch.

Hmm...

Normally, I detest the catalogs that I get in the mail. I mean, does anyone shop from catalogs they receive in the mail??? Why? Not when every thing's online... It makes ordering so much easier.

But I digress... Sorry.

So yesterday, I received a catalog from Barney's. It was a small flip-book of their luxury handbags for this season. And while most did not spark my interest, there was one, of course, that I immediately LOVED.

The Balenciaga Arena Leather Giant Envelope Clutch.



Now, I don't mind getting catalogs from Barney's. I don't mind it because it is one of the few stores where their website really isn't up to par. And perhaps that is for a reason. And of the few items they do have on their website, Balenciaga is not one of them.

In fact, you can't really find Balenciaga items for sale on the Internet anywhere. There are plenty of knock-offs available online... But not the real deal. Which is why I had to settle for giving you the poorly scanned photo above.

But the clutch is so divine. I wonder if it comes in red... Hmm...

Myers & Chang: It Rocks!

Even though it just opened a few weeks ago, The Husband and I decided to go and check out the new Asian cheap eats diner here in the South End, Myers & Chang.

After the disappointment that was Gaslight during it's opening few weeks, we decided to take a recommendation from one of our friends and not try a new place till a few months in, after all the kinks will have worked themselves out.

However, last night we decided to throw caution to the wind and head over to Washington and East Berkeley Street to Myers & Chang. And it was not disappointing.

Definitely a diner, it's comfy and casual. I really dug the red dragon painted along the windows... And, other than a really kick ass juke box I came across at a little dive bar in the East Village of Manhattan called "Blue & Gold," Myers & Chang had the most amazing sounds playing during dinner. It was rock music. And it kicked ass.

The of course, there's the food. It's Asian-themed. So you have your typical fried rice, noodles, spring rolls, etc... We tried a few dishes; including spare ribs, spring rolls, the Nirvana Chicken and the Chef's Fried Rice.

The only thing we remotely did not like was the fried rice. It was kinda boring. And the mushrooms in it tasted rubbery. But the rest of the food was excellent.

I definitely recommend checking it out. The food rocked. The music rocked. And the prices rocked. (It's diner food, after all.)

Finally Found A Desk! (And Got A Lamp!)

After searching around online quite a bit, and visiting a few shops in person, I have finally decided upon a desk for my home office...

The Spotlight Desk from Crate and Barrel.


I was a little hesitant about picking something from C&B. Sometimes the quality of the furniture is crap. But I went to the store a few times and checked out the desk. It's truly what I am looking for to put in my home office.

First, it's HUGE. Lots of surface area. And the drawer that lives directly beneath it slides on very secure rollers. Also, it's the kind of desk that could easily be placed in the middle of a room, up against nothing... Or it can be pushed up against a wall. So it's versatile.

I am still looking for chair to go with it. I want a really nice one that is a little girlie.

And speaking of girlie... I decided to go ahead and get the Capiz Table Lamp in White from West Elm. I am still debating about also getting the floor lamp too.

So long furniture from university days! "Yay!" to grown-up furniture!

The Best Hair Dryer Ever.

I just finished blow drying my hair. My thick, naturally wavy hair. It took me less than 10 minutes to do it.

No lie. I went from wet and wavy hair to dry, shaped and soft hair 10 minutes later. And the best part (aside from the quickness) was that I did not need ANY hair product. None whatsoever! No serum to control frizziness! No hairspray to hold it! It's fantastic!

The hair dryer I am using is brand new. I picked it up form Sephora yesterday afternoon. I initially went in there to get the $300 Bespoke Labs T3 model. But then I saw, right next to it, the $200 T3 version by Bespoke.

"Hmm," I thought. "What's the difference besides the price?"

So I pulled both models down and lined the boxes side by side. I read through both and discovered that the $300 promises to dry your hair 70% quicker and has four heat settings, while the $200 one dries your hair 60% quicker and has only two heat settings.

"Do I really care about four heat settings?" I asked myself. "And is the 10% quicker drying time really worth an extra $100?"

So, I decided to get the $200 version. At the register, before I plunked down my debit card, I asked the sales chick what the return policy was... And it was good. If I didn't like the product, for any reason, I could return it as long as I had the receipt still.

But, as you can tell, I am quite happy with my purchase. So I won't be returning it. Because it will be quite nice to be able to dry my hair quickly this winter, and never have to go outside with damp hair.

I Can Run!?!?

So, I've never been a "runner" when it comes to exercise. I've always hated. Always made it a point to tell people that I hate running. I don't even like jogging... That's how much I have hated running.

It's not like I am lazy or was out of shape... I could dance for hours. Or do yoga. Or even hit the elliptical machine for an hour and walk on the treadmill. But when it came to running on pavement or the treadmill, it was always ruled "out."

Since I was a kid and had to start running in gym class, I would always develop side "stitches" when I ran. It would be about 30 seconds into the run, and I would be in major pain. Usually just on my left side. And I subscribe to the philosophy of, "If it hurts, stop doing it."

Or at least I used to...

This morning, The Husband and I got up and went to the gym together. We spent the first hour weight training. I wanted to show him a few of the training moves I have learned. He was very impressed with my strength, form and endurance. But what impressed him most came after the weight training...

After doing various lifting and pushing exercises, we decided to hop on the treadmill for a little cardio. Normally, I speed walk on the treadmill. And that's it. But today, I decided I would run fora third of the time.

Instead, I ran for half the time.

Yep, that's right, I ran. Well, jogged "aggressively." But still, I was not walking. And you know what? It was awesome!

Not once did I feel any kind of pain. No side stitches. No back pain. No knee or ankle pain. It was great!

I have no idea why I was able to suddenly start running... Could be all the yoga I have been doing... But I am very proud of myself. And The Husband was very proud of me too.

"I am impressed, you held way better than I expected," he said. (He really knows how much I hated running.)

But not anymore. I don't hate running. And I am excited for what I was able to do today. I am looking forward to the next gym visit when I can run again.

As I like to always say... "You can't stop progress."

("But you can impede it a little..." As my boss would say.)

Plum Passion.

While out this afternoon, I saw what I have determined to be the prettiest dress I have seen so far this season.

The Briar Creek dress from Anthropologie.



Very elegant, but still fun and comfortable. The plum color is gorgeous. And, the best part of the dress is that it is machine washable. Nice!

I am considering picking one up because I love it so much... Maybe for a wedding I have to go to next April in Mexico. Hmm...

Jolie, Why So Boring?

I enjoy reading other blogs online. One of my favorites for the past two years has been JolieinNYC. However, I have a problem...

Jolie doesn't blog often anymore. She'll go days, even weeks, without a single post. And lately, when she does post, it doesn't have the same energy it used to. I dare say it, but it's just not worth reading anymore.

Tear... Sniff...

Off to find more fun blogs to read and recommend.

Let Me Borrow That Top, Betch.

LOL!

I just found this video online, after everyone else has probably seen it a million times! I am so slow!

Enjoy!

Equinox-ing Together.

After dedicating four and a half years to Boston Sports Club as a member, my husband finally caved to my wishes and left that gym to join Equinox with me.

The Husband is very dedicated with his "gym-ing." He goes four to five days a week, usually after work. And since he works in Downtown Crossing, he would go to the BSC down there... Which was always PACKED right after work.

"Equinox is newer and is cleaner," I told him. "And it has fewer people at it. So you'll be able to get a decent work out in when you go after work."

He didn't quite believe me on that last part. But I gave him a tour of Equinox last weekend and showed him everything I liked about it. So he tool advantage of the $16 joining sale (which they are extending) and signed up.

He was in Vancouver for work during the early part of the week, but was finally able to get in a workout after work last night. when he came home, the first words out of his mouth were, "There was no one there!"

It was a bit of an exaggeration. There were people there, but it's just not as busy as the BSCs are after work.

"Most everyone I saw there was working out with a trainer," he said.

I told him that made sense. The trainers there are really that good. And it's nice to know that no matter when you go, you'll be able to get a good workout in and not have to stand around waiting for machines and equipment.

Plus, now we can go back to working out together again on weekends.

What To Bring To Friends?

The Husband and I met with friends last night to hang out and drink wine. It was super fun, as this couple really knows their stuff when it comes to wine.

But since this was our first time going to their apartment, we wanted to bring them something nice as a "thank you." Normally, we would bring a bottle of wine for them to have whenever. But The Husband and I found ourselves quite self-conscious when it came to doing that this time.

I mean, this couple takes classes in wine. They blog about wine. They're so much more fancy and grown-up in their wine taste than we are. We couldn't bring them wine. Of course not!

So the dilemma was, "What to bring them?"

Eventually, I decided on a cute container of homemade granola I produced this past weekend at home and some flowers I picked up from Twig on Tremont. I'm never self-conscious about my cooking or flowers.

T3 $300 Blowdryer? I May Try It.

I've written about it before... I have very thick hair. Hair that, until two months ago, was about 10 inches longer. It has a natural wave to it, and is very strong. (They say most people lose an average of 100 strands of hair a day? I lose only about 20 strands.)

So given my hair's structure, you can imagine how difficult it is to blow it dry. When I do have the energy to dry it, it takes about 25 to 30 minutes just to get it all dry IF I'm not trying to style and shape it at the same time.

Because of the time factor, for the past two and a half years, I have been wearing my hair naturally wavy. That means I get up, I wash it, and then I let it air dry... Which takes all day. It just got to be too high maintenance to dry it with a blow dryer every morning or night. But I have longed to have gorgeous sleek hair again... And I think I may finally be ready to commit to something that will help me get there...

The $300 T3 blow dryer, which can be found at Sephora.

Currently, I own some model of blow dryer I bought online from Target. And I have no desire to use it ever because I know once I turn it on it means some serious time... And there's no turning back once you start.

But the T3 model promises a 70% cut in drying time. And according to this blog review of it, the claim is nearly accurate... At a 50% cut. Additionally, the blogger says if you use this product, you won't need your flat iron.

Hallelujah!

This is enough to make me actually go back to Sephora and take a look at it even more closely this weekend. Because I would love to start straightening my hair again. I'm over my waves.

Dating Coaches: A Great Waste Of Disposable Income.

You know... I am a reasonable consumer. I am willing to spend disposable money on things that are designer, expensive and that I love. And while some people may see that trait as crazy, I think this is even crazier:

Paying loads of money for a dating coach.

Now, I agree that some people are better at meeting others and connecting... Which leads to dating. If you're lucky, it could lead to many dates. Sometimes with the same person every night. (If you're looking to get serious.) Sometimes with a different person every night. (If you're not looking to get serious.)

I think the Internet and online dating sounds really cool. (I never did it because it was just becoming popular when I met The Husband.) It's a great way to meet new people, especially if you are to new to a city. And I know many people who have found great relationships through Internet dating. So spending money on that is great.

But spending money on a dating coach? Probably not a good idea.

Why? Well, I think you have to apply the same life advice to dating as you do with everything else in your life. And why spend $10,000 hiring someone to tell you your "choice in picking mates sucks" or that you need to "make eye contact," when you can just rely on your friends or you parents to do that for you?

And I'm sorry, but devoting 15 hours a week to finding a mate? Thumbs down people. You don't need a second job on top of your current one. And I think people can smell desperation pretty easily. And when you are aggressive and devoting that much time to trying to meet someone, it just wreaks of "au de hopeless."

I agree with the writer of the piece...

"You can take a million courses and pay a million dollars, but that is no guarantee that you’ll ever find love. You may feel better about yourself — always a good thing — but that’s all. So, in the meantime, go out and live your life. And that advice is free."

Tay Zonday Kitty.

One of my favorite "guilty pleasures" lately is ICanHasCheezburger... Because really... Who doesn't love pictures of felines with cute and funny little bits written on them?

And this one above is probably my favorite posting there of all time... Tay Zonday!!!!

Bionic Badass.

Watching the pilot episode of the Bionic Woman right now. This show kicks ass. If you didn't get a chance to see it, you missed out.

Tod's Driving Shoes.

Hmm...

I was flipping through the recent issue of Bazaar the other day and saw the ad with Sienna Miller sitting on a couch with her feet up. She was wearing the Tod's Alligator Driving Shoes in Cherry Red.

They look yummy!

The price though? Not so yummy. They cost $4500. And with the way I keep going through shoes (the Chloe flats are worn out and I accidentally washed one of my Marc Jacobs black velvet ballet mouse flats last night - don't ask how), I really couldn't ever in a million years justify spending $4500 on a pair of shoes.

But if I could find something similar to these... That would be nice. They look so comfy. And stylish. The perfect traveling and commuting shoe!

"...Except When You Pee."

I got up early this AM to meet the trainer for our regularly scheduled training session.

She has progressed me to doing circuits now that our earlier efforts together were successful. (I have had about five different people tell me in the past week that I look like I have lost weight. I haven't. It's just been toned. And my face is thinner. No more bubbly-cheeks.)

With the circuits, I do many different things, one right after the other. So stepping up and down on a box, while using my abs to stabilize me. Then I do bend-overs on one leg about 15 times. Then I switch to the other leg. Then I do some curls. Some push-ups. Some lifts using my elbows. Some triceps exercises. Then I repeat the whole circuit.

It's pretty tiring. Stuff starts to burn. And the trainer always is asking me, like she did this morning, "How do you feel?"

And I said, "It burns!"

She replied, "It's always good when it burns!"

And I said, "Except when you pee!"

She laughed.

Which is so true. No one likes getting Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs). (That's the only thing I can think of that make it burn when you pee. Anyone know anything else? Aren't there STDs that do it too?)

Stylephile - The Clueless File.

Umm.... Have you read "Stylephile" on Boston.com? The style blog they attempt to run there?

Now, I have liked most of the few posts they manage to put up. But some one really needs to tell them how "Web 2.0" works. The posts are too far and few between. So, up until today, that was really my only negative thing to say about Stylephile.

But now, I have another bitchy thing to say...

"One particular 'style' writer is kinda clueless."

Now, I'm not going to name names... But come on... This post on you thinking what SJP is wearing for the SATC movie is a "horror" and not liking the shoes? Get a clue!

I simply reference my blog post from LAST WEEK (when the photo came out - another rule to Web 2.0 and blogging... "Try to be timely.")

Yes, Patricia Field can be "out there" with what she puts together for herself. (That's her style.)But when it comes to character styling, she is queen. And Carrie Bradshaw was never a safe dresser. And she loved her shoes. (So how dare you say the shoes suck!!!!!!)

How about commenting how this outfit is "classic" to the character?

Deep Voices = Very Fertile.

Wow... Was just reading a story in the Globe on how men with deep voices may be more fertile than most.

If this is true... Than whatever lady is lucky enough to marry Tay Zonday better watch the hell out. She'll probably end up with lots and lots of babies.



Hell, I'm surprised I'm not pregnant just listening to his voice!

Reversible Chic.

While walking to Whole Foods on Sunday morning to do my grocery shopping, I saw a woman up ahead of me who was dressed very stylishly.

She was wearing jeans that were cuffed up about five inches, black flip flops, a bright persimmony-orange t-shirt and a maroon and floral patterned blazer. It was very cute. Perfect outfit for brunching.

Then I said to myself, "Wait a minute! I have that same blazer! AND, that girls is wearing inside out!"

I began walking more briskly to catch up to her. I needed to confirm that this was the very same jacket I had. I got up close enough to confirm that it was.

"But I had no idea it was a reversible blazer!" I said to myself.

When I got home though, I more closely inspected the blazer. It is NOT reversible on it's own. This girl is just very imaginative and advanced in her style skills that she could look at the jacket and see the potential. (What a fashion-savvy gal!)

Here is the jacket as it is meant to be worn.



And here it is reversed.



Very cute.

New Office: Need A Desk.

I finally got around to organizing my home writing room/office this weekend. I added two book cases in there to go with the new couch.






I currently do have a desk in there of light wood. It's hideous though. And old. So I will be on a mission to finalize a desk in the next few days. One of dark wood too. And of course, I need to change out the lamps. But one step at a time though.

Boston Fashion Week?

A co-worker and I were chatting about Boston Fashion Week, which was supposed to have happened about two weeks ago... You know, when the NYC Fashion Week was supposed to be happening as well.

However, despite receiving a few invites to volunteer, I heard nothing more about BFW. It came and went. Nobody saw it. Nobody wrote about it. So it begs the question...

"If no one saw it. And no one heard it. Did it even exist?"

Did it happen? I know from talking to others that it did. But where was the coverage? I saw none. Even Google News says it did not exist.

Anyone else in the same boat? Or did you happen to see major coverage of Boston Fashion Week?

Saucy Monday!

I am really loving the red Calypso dress I bought a few months back. I wore it to work today, tied in the special "Calypso" way the showed me.



It's comfy, but totally a "saucy" look... Jeans, a tank and a wrap dress!

Holy French Toast!

After my yoga class this morning, I made The Husband celebrate with me by taking me to brunch at Tremont 647.

Well, actually, I took us. I suggested it, and I paid. So I just made him join me.

When we sat down, I was eyeing the BBQ breakfast on the menu. It looked really good and included a lot of protein in it. The Husband said it would probably be "too big" for me, and that I should go for something more "delicate"... Like the french toast.

I pouted at that idea, and then agreed... Even though the BBQ breakfast also came with watermelon. (Which is the only kind of melon I like. I detest cantaloupe and honey dew.)

However, we underestimated how much french toast and Maine blueberry compote you get for $8.50 at Tremont 647...



Yes... That was what I received. Well, actually, that is what was left after I managed to get one slice of the french toast down. The Husband was appalled. He insisted on taking one of the three huge slices I got and tried to make his way through it, on top of his own breakfast.

That's all we got through though. I ate one slice and some of my fruit. He ate a plate of huevos rancheros and one slice of french toast.

The waitress thoughtfully asked us if we wanted to pack up the leftovers for a "snack" later. I don't know what the hell kind of "snack" a thick slice of french toast would have made. That would have been way grody.

Next time, damnit, I am going with the BBQ breakfast. Husband be damned. It would have been a more reasonably-sized portion I think.

Bikram Yoga Challenge: DONE!

Today was day 30 of my Bikram Yoga 30-day challenge. I am now done.

(Pause for cheers from those of you out on the Internetz.)

This was my THIRD 30-day challenge in less than a year. My first one was last October. then I did another one in January of this year. So that means in the past year I have done at least 90 days of 90 minutes of hatha yoga in a room that was at least 105 degrees with a humidity of 35%.

That's a lot of yoga. Especially when you consider that I have probably done another 40 classes on top of that this year (at least!). So for a good third of this year, I have done Bikram yoga once a day.

In this most recent challenge I did double up in classes once, and I took three classes at Bikram Yoga NYC's Flatiron district while on vacation. Most of my classes were done during the 5:30om class, after work. And now, I am finally able to thoroughly wash my yoga clothes a few times and get the smell out of them.

Also, I am able to color my hair again. And this afternoon, I went and got a facial at Exhale. (Clean skin!) Woohoo!

I am going to take tomorrow off from yoga, and go one Monday evening. My plan is to now go on Monday. Wednesday and Fridays. And then once on the weekends too.

It's so nice to finally be done.

There are a few people who go to this same studio who are just now starting an official 30-day challenge. I am so glad to be done though. I've been getting sick in the past few classes, whenever we do the floor exercises. I've begun really pushing myself in the standing exercises, and now I just seem to collapse when it comes to the floor exercises. I really tire out. So it will probably be good for me to have a day in between each class to recover.

But yay! I'm done, again.

Classic Carrie Bradshaw.

Was just over at FabSugar reading and voting in a poll on how Sarah Jessica Parker looks in this picture.



It's from the set of the Sex and the City movie. And it is CLASSIC Carrie Bradshaw!

There were a few clueless people who voted in the poll and commented that the dress was tacky. But please people! You are obviously not big SATC fans if you don't know that Carrie was never a "safe" dresser... She was always the risk taker in the group. (There were a couple of episodes where both she and Samantha sported designer fanny packs! Ugh! But definitely risk takers!)

I love this outfit. The dress. The shoes. The gorgeous hair. I believe fashion is art. I don't limit myself to only appreciating pieces that I would wear myself.

Would I wear this outfit? Heck no! I could never pull it off. But I adore it on her. And those shoes are like licorice on her feet... Yum!

Tips For Registering For China: Part One.

I have quite a few engaged friends now. And I have a feeling that I will have a few more engaged friends in the not too distant future.

Given my experience having worked in the bridal/wedding industry in my former life, I always welcome my friends to pilfer me for advice when needed. I don't give it unsolicited, of course. But I am always open to questions.

Recently I had a conversation with one friend about registering for china. I kept listing off things for her to keep in mind about choosing a pattern that I finally said, "I should just do a post on this!" So below are my tips for what you should keep in mind when registering for china...

How do you clean?
Seriously... Are you up for washing things by hand? Or do you rely heavily on the dishwasher? If it's dishwasher, you need to look at china that is "dishwasher-safe." So this means no metallic paint or hand-painted designs on your china. No platinum bands. No gold bands. No pretty Anna Weatherly decals. Those will be ruined by the dishwasher.

Do you see yourself ever having a formal dinner?
If not, stick with less-ornate china. I have seen some really beautiful designs in my time that I absolutely love. But I am not a formal dining person. So I went with a more casual pattern. (That, no surprise, is dishwasher-safe.)

Do you like color?
If you choose a pattern that has color to it, remember that this is supposed to be china you keep for life. So just try to make sure you will love the color and pattern 50 years from now.

Be sure to ask if the pattern is in danger of being discontinued anytime soon.
I have had this happen to brides I work with... They fall in love with a pattern, and a year after they get married, when their mother-in-law wants to add a platter to their collection, the pattern is no longer available. Or, they break a few plates in an apartment move, and they can not replace them.

Consider registering for a couple different patterns.
Love two patterns? Hate the idea of having to choose between them? You don't have to! Not really. Do your dinner service in one pattern, and do a dessert service in another. This is what I did when I registered. We did most of our service in the Bernardaud "Louvre." Then, I did dessert plates in a feminine Kate Spade pattern.

Register for way more place settings and pieces than you think you'll need.
Eyeing that soup tureen in your pattern, but afraid no one will cough up the $400 for it from your registry? Think again. People get very generous when it comes to gifts for weddings and babies. And it never hurts to have a wide variety of things on your registry. And you can always use more platters and serving bowls in your pattern. So add many.

That's all I have for now. I will be doing a second post in the next day or so on what the purpose of each china piece is used for, and why you might want to add it to your list.

Yoga Stoned.

Every piece of yoga material I own (yoga clothes and towel) smells like the yoga studio. Even though I wash each piece after each class, I have been doing so much yoga that they smell. I may have to get rid of some stuff after my challenge ends tomorrow.

Yep, that's right. My third Bikram yoga 30-day challenge ends tomorrow, Saturday. I have just two classes left, today and tomorrow. And it is going to be great, because I am so "yoga stoned."

By "yoga stoned" I mean, after each class I am completely dazed. It's one of the ways you know you worked really hard in the class. You finish, and your mind is so exhausted that you jut sort of zone out.

About two weeks ago, I zoned out so badly after class, I left my yoga mat and towel just laying out. I left and went home. And once I got all the way home, I realized I had left them out.

Ahh!

That means that the teacher of the class had to touch my yucky, gross yoga towel and my disgusting mat. I felt so bad. But I returned later that day for a double class and apologized.

"That's okay," she said. "You were really in the zone after class earlier. It's how you know you had a good class."

I was grateful she was so understanding.

Now I am finding myself "yoga stoned" after pretty much every class. And it really messes with your mind. But Bikram yoga isn't just about a physical challenge. It's very much a mental challenge. It's awesome.

So I am looking forward to my last two classes in this challenge. Then I am taking Sunday off. I need a day where I don't get stoned.

Want To Join Equinox for $16?

When I joined Equinox back in May, it was right after the club opened and I got a fantastic deal. I had no initiation fee to pay. Normally, the fee to just join the club is $400+. Then the average monthly fee is about $130.

But because I joined right after they opened and at the end of a month when they are desperate to bring on new members, I got a great deal out of it. It's an awesome club. The equipment is pristine. And the exercise classes are better than anywhere else I have seen.

(In fact, Equinox has actually enticed well-known instructors away from their old locations to come work for them.)

So, I am happy to pass on news to you all that they are finally having a joining sale again. They haven't had one in a few months. But if you are interested in joining, here are the details...

If anyone is interested in joining, email me at commongroundblog @ gmail.com. I will connect you with a membership person. I think that's how you get the $16 deal.

Making Marshmallows.

A co-worker of mine begged me to make marshmallows for her on my day off yesterday. I had been talking earlier in the week about how easy it is to make them, and she asked me if I would make some coconut flavored ones for her.

Here is a step by step demonstration of how to make them. I use the Barefoot Contessa's recipe for making them. It's super easy and really yummy.

Mix gelatin and water.

Dissolve corn syrup, sugar and water in a pot.

Sprinkle sifted powdered sugar in a GLASS baking dish.

Boil stove mixture to 240 degrees.

Pour stove mixture into gelatin bowl.

Beat the mixture for 15 minutes...

... Till very stiff and gooey.

Then pour in vanilla and coconut flavorings and mix a little more.

Pour into the powdered pan. Sprinkle more sifted sugar on top. Let sit overnight.

Next morning, flip out on cutting board and cut into desired size pieces.

After cutting, sprinkle more powdered sugar on the sticky sides.

They are really good. And the recipe is very, very easy to follow.

Purple Fainting Sofa!

It has arrived! And I have put it together!



I must say, I do love it. It's smaller than I thought it would be... But that actually makes it even more perfect for a home office... Or at the end of a bed... Or in a dressing room.

Talk Like A Pirate Day.

It's Talk Like A Pirate Day people! (And it's also my aunt's birthday.)

Yes... I am taking today off from work. With so many vacation days, it just made excellent sense that I would take one of the holiest of holy days off this year. That and I took the day off to wait for the UPS delivery of my new purple fainting couch.

They better be deliverin' it smartly, arrrr!!! Or I be preparin' me plank for dem to walk.

But I Even Bought New Shoes!

I did a lot of dating in my time. You know, back when I was single. I was a little bit picky when it came to potential suitors. But in all my dating I was never stood up. Never. Not once.

Then today, I got stood up. At exactly 6am this morning. Of course, when I say "stood up" I mean by my trainer.

For the past few months I have been getting up at about 5:15am every Tuesday and Thursday morning to meet with my trainer at the gym. I get there at about 5:50am. We work out from 6am to 7am.

This morning, I woke up at about 5am and thought to myself, "I bet she won't be able to make the session today." I don't know why I thought that, but I did. I knew nothing bad was going to happen to her, but I knew she wouldn't be able to make it.

Then, like usual, I get to the gym at about 5:50am. I pull a training voucher from the front desk so she can get credit for the session. Then I wait in the comfortable lobby area. I pick up the latest issue of Wired and flip to the last page... My favorite section... "Artifacts from the Future." I giggle. Then I start browsing the rest of the magazine. And before I know it, it's 6:05am.

By 6:10am, another trainer working the floor came over to me and asked me who I was waiting for... I told them and they went to go look for her.

I felt bad, because I knew she wasn't going to make it... At least that's what I kept hearing in my head. And I didn't want to get her into trouble. I didn't want to call attention to myself or the fact that my trainer had missed the appointment.

She wasn't anywhere to be found. And by 6:30am, I couldn't wait any longer. And I didn't have time to get in a workout by myself and still get to work on time. So I walked home.

While in the shower, the trainer called. She had overslept, which I knew was going to be the case. She's never done that before. And I know she won't do it again. She's a really good trainer.

But I am a little bummed... I bought new shoes to work out in.

What I'm Craving Now: See By Chloe.

I have been quite chilly this weekend. Autumn started to sneak in a little this weekend.

And even though it is going to be warming up later this week (according to the widget I have on my Mac), I have gone ahead and packed away some of my Summer clothes. Now I am getting ready for some more Fall pieces.

My current craving is a Roll Neck Sweater by See by Chloe.



It's a sweet piece. I love this type of neck on sweaters. You allow just a peek of skin, but yet you are still properly covered up. I'm not committed to the piece. But I do love it.

Evil Airline.

Now... I'm not gonna name names... But those of you who read this blog regularly may recall my revulsion with one particular airline. Well, they have gone and fucked up again.

When I booked my trip to the Turks & Caicos for American Thanksgiving last month, the only airline we were able to get flights on was the evil airline. So I said, "We'll suck it up and fly the evil airline."

Then, I log onto my email this morning and see I have an updated flight itinerary for that trip that I need to call the online travel agency about. So I do, and guess what I learned?

They fucking changed the fucking flight.

Normally, a flight change wouldn't be a big deal. But, instead of leaving on Monday the 19th at 6am from Boston to catch an 8am flight in NYC to the Turks & Caicos... The evil airline decided to change the 6am flight to the night before at 8:10pm.

What the fuck?

So, they wanted us to fly to NYC on the 18th of November at night. Then book a hotel room for the night. Then get on the 7:50am flight to the T&C the next day? What the fuck?

Not only that, the online travel agency didn't have the original flight times listed in their system for our original 6am flight. So the fucking shittiest airline in the mother fucking world changed it with out leaving a trail.

But all is good now, kinda. We have re-booked our departing flights from Boston for the 19th. We get to the Turks & Caicos about two hours later than we had originally planned to, which is okay.

But I fucking hate that airline. I hate them even more than shell fish. And I REALLY hate shell fish.

Karta: Polyester Chic?

Hmm...

I understand the importance of medium when it comes to being an artist.

Some prefer to work with water colors. Some like sculpt with adobe clay. I've even seen art where people use blood. (Eww!)

But when it comes to fashion (you know, the "art you live your life in"), it's equally as important what fabrics you use. Not all designers can maneuver the delicate threads of silk. Some prefer organic cotton with it's "all natural-ness." Others like wools and cashmeres. But one fabric I do not get is polyester.

Polyester, while easy to care for and durable, is a crap fabric. You can't breathe in it. And if you're going to pay a lot of money for something, your body should be able to breathe in it. So, I don't get why Karta makes polyester dresses that cost $400+ a piece.

It's a cute mod design. But $410? For polyester? Give me a break! No way! That's insane!

Bohemian Beads.

I was on a kick about two years ago with beading and making my own necklaces and bracelets.

Every Saturday or Sunday, I would head over to Beadworks on Newbury Street and scan through the hundreds of precious beads they have in the hopes of finding something I could put together a piece of jewelry with. I think I probably spent a few hundred dollars on beading equipment over a period of about three months. And I strung together some pieces that I still wear today that I am really proud of...

But even though I am able to make my own jewelry, I still have a fondness for pieces that come from shops. Not super expensive pieces... I am more into stuff that is funky, bohemian, eclectic and cheap. Like you find at H&M or even in children's stores... Or, like my co-worker E. is wearing today...

Super cute, huh? She bought it a couple of years ago in the Fanueil Hall area. It's red and orange beads string together in a double drop strand. It's a piece she should keep forever, because it will always be in style. And the red and orange colors are perfect for Autumn.

Tom Ford Is Tacky.

I was never a fan of Gucci. Not even when Tom Ford was at the helm of designing for the house. He is just way to creepy.

And now, he'd proven he is still creepy, even after having left Gucci and started his own line of beauty products. (Namely fragrances.) Check out his tacky new ads for his latest scent...

(Apologies for the explicit nature of the photo. But apparently, this is part of his advertising campaign.)

Umm.... I've seen opinions posted on this ad campaign in a few places today. I find it creepy. What exactly is he trying to say with this image?

Wait... I don't think I want to know.

But, I will say that whoever did the Brazilian waxing on this model did a spectacular job. So "kudos" to them.

But I don't think I will be buying the perfume.

Bikram Yoga Challenge: Nine Days Left.

Tonight was class 21 of my 30-day Bikram yoga challenge. This means only nine days left... Yay!

After the ass-burning workout I got this morning at 6am, my body was still in no shape to handle locking out my legs in a Bikram class 12 hours later. So it was a rough class for me... Me and my ass.

But on the bright side, it is over. And I only have a little over a week left. And there's no reason to quit now... With less than a third of the challenge left.

Not that I was thinking of quitting. Certainly not! But I am just talking about the challenge in general. It's not easy to do a 30-day challenge. It IS easy to get side-tracked during it, and just give in.

Man... My ass really hurts.

Androgynous Chic? Me?

Wow! Apparently I am inspiring a trend!

Not really... But I submitted the picture of yesterday's outfit to Fab Sugar and was chosen as today's Look of the Day... "Androgynous Chic." (Women wearing men's wear pieces.)

Way cool! Thanks Fab! Such an honor!

Whatever Lola Wants... Lola Gets...

Not sure how I feel about this...

A few months back, I heard about the Boston Globe planning to put out a monthly lifestyle & fashion magazine. I thought, "Cool. Should be interesting. Boston is often over-looked as being an originally fashionable city. This could help change that perspective. And who doesn't love reading lifestyle material, especially when it is specific to your own city?"

Then, earlier this week, a press release was put out by the NY Times company (who owns the Globe) about the name of the new magazine...

Lola.

Hmm.... I'm not quite sure why that name was chosen. The name is of Spanish origin. And do you know what it means????

"Sorrows."

Yes. That is what "Lola" means. So how that is appropriate for a lifestyle magazine, I do not know. Why not something simple, like "Boston Style"?

How the hell does "Lola" fit?

Glutes... ACTIVATE!

Ugh. My ass hurts.

Since I had an assessment on Tuesday morning, today was the first day in my new training cycle. And we definitely kicked it up a notch.

Today was a day where we focused hard core on my ass. Or, "glutes," as my trainer likes to say. She had me doing one-legged squats that were so painful. Do you know what those are? No? Well let me enlighten you...

You stand on both feet, hip-width apart. You shift your balance on to one foot, but you keep the other foot in line, just off the floor. You then squat all the way back... Way back... Till your ass touches the bench all the way behind you and you are sitting down. And you have to do this with complete control.

I did that about 45 times on each leg.

THEN, in-between each set of those, she had me doing vertical jumps. You shift your weight to the back of your feet, with your knees bent... Squatting deeply. Then you BURST yourself into the air with your arms and legs straight... Then you land back on your feet and shift your weight back into your ankles.

You might think jumping straight up and down is easy... But when you have to use all your energy to balance one second and then burst up the next, it ain't that easy. And if you do it immediately after you just did one-legged squats... Well, your ass will be hurting in no time.

In fact, I told the trainer this.

"Where do you feel it?" she asked. She likes to make sure that I am not feeling it in my lower back, as that would indicate I am doing it wrong.

"I feel it in my freaking ass," I said.

She laughed.

"Well, that's good! That means you're activating your glute muscles!" she said.

I would rather just have a super secret power that just made my ass smaller and more toned on it's own... Without having to do any work. Because I am lazy.

But I don't think I will ever have that super secret power. So, I need to just "deal" and get used to having to ACTIVATE it on my own.

Wishful thinking never got any one's ass any smaller.

The Tiger Dream and Peeing.

So, since my shamanic session in NYC over Labor Day, I have been having different dreams.

Before, I would dream about having to pee and not being able to find a toilet that was good enough for me to pee in to. Those were, allegedly, dreams about me needing to "release" something spiritually, but not being able to.

Now, I have had two to three dreams in the past week where I actually am able to pee. I find a bathroom, and I pee.

Peeing:
To dream that you are urinating, symbolizes a cleansing and release of negative or repressed emotions. Urination is symbolic of having or lacking basic control in your life.

Finally! Some release!

Then, last night, I had a weird dream. (But let's be honest, they are all weird.)

This time, I dreamed that there was a child walking around with some people. And someone let a tiger loose in the room. And the tiger nearly snapped the child. But I put myself in front of the child and grabbed the tiger's open mouth with my bare hands...

(Wow. In my dreams, I am so bad ass!)

I was able to fend off the tiger and save the child.

Here's what the symbols in that dream meant.

Tiger:
To dream that you ward off or kill a tiger, signifies that you will be exceedingly successful in all your endeavors. It is an indication of your good health, vitality, and vigor.

Saving A Child:
To save a child, signifies your attempts to save a part of yourself from being destroyed.

The child wasn't anything like me though. It was a small child. With big eyes. About the age of two. I believe it was a little boy.

I have no idea what this dream is supposed to really represent. But I am grateful I am finally peeing in my dreams.

Wide Leg Jeans And Ruby Slippers.

The air was a little crisp this morning when I got up. So I decided to put together a very Autumn outfit to wear to work.





My Paige wide leg jeans (loving them!), white button-down Anthropologie blouse, black cashmere v-neck from J Crew and my red patent leather Jimmy Choo flats. The bag is an un-named designer from Anthroplogie that I bought earlier this year.

I think I am definitely going to be more dressy the fall season.

Orange Murse.

I was walking to work this morning when I spotted a gorgeous worn leather handbag in a "campari" orange color. It looked so chic in the hands of the person walking past me. It was a perfect "work bag."

But that's when I realized, as the person strutted past me, that it was being carried by a fellow. A fellow who otherwise was not stylish.

(Sorry for the poor picture quality. Mobile phone camera!)

The bag was way cool. But this all goes back to my belief that if you're going to carry a fancy and chic hand bag, you have to dress the part too. You need to dress up. Look more polished. And he was definitely not!

This is why I carry very "bohemian-esque" hand bags. They're way more casual.

This fellow needs to receive some style tips! Where's Tim Gunn when you need him?

Marry Our Daughter?

What the eff-ing hell is this?

Marry Our Daughter????

I thought this was a joke site at first. So I decided to submit my profile with the following description:

"The Missus is an 18 year old Christian girl. She just graduated high school and hopes to go to university some day, but knows her role in life is to be a wife and mommy. She likes watching American Idol and Seventh Heaven re-runs. Her favorite color is baby pink. Asking price is $5,995."

After I submitted my profile, I got the following email response:

"We have received your Daughter's information and will pass it to our board for a review screening.If we find it sincere and appropriate, we will contact you to request a photo and your payment of 5% of the requested Bride Price.This process may take several weeks, so please be patient."

So I don't know if the site is legit. But look at some of the profile of one of the young teenage brides:



So... Because she has had some "unchristian desires" she is a damaged girl and only worth $6k???

Even worse.. Check out the testimonials!

“Our 15 year old daughter Mary wasn’t very popular and did nothing but mope around the house bringing everybody down, so we decided to marry her off through your site. Now our house is a lot cheerier and we love our new swimming pool and Jaccuzi! We’ve told our youngest that when she turns 15 we’re going to marry her off too!"

It has to be fake, right????

But, you know what "they" say... "Old enough to bleed... Old enough to breed..."

(I DON'T actually believe that, by the way.)

UPDATE: The site is a hoax! Thank God!

Needed: A Beauty Clean-Up.

Doing this yoga challenge wreaks havoc on my grooming. During a yoga challenge, I usually can't do any of the following:

• Get a pedicure. Because it would be pointless. The nail polish needs about a day to fully dry and set before you enter a humid room... Otherwise you are susceptible to easy chipping.
• Wax my eyebrows. Well, I could go get this done. I just don't have time to yet. And it's been about six weeks since my last one. So they are badly in need of waxing.
• Get a facial. With all the sweating, my skin is keeping clear. But I long for a nice cleaning of it. And you really can't get anything done till you have a day of no excessive sweating.
• Color my hair. Right now, my hair has grey strands, along with pinkish-blond strands. And it grows like a weed... So quickly! I need a good hair coloring and hair cut. But there's no way I can color my hair... It would bleed right out once I went to my next yoga class. And who wants to have black hair dye on their yoga towel? Eww! (Also to be avoided if you do Bikram - spray tans. A girl in one of the NYC classes I took over labor day had her towel COVERED in spray tan coloring. Eww!)
• Get a massage. I could do this during the challenge. But it's actually how I reward myself at the end of a challenge.

So I am going to book major appointments for the Saturday afternoon that I finish my challenge. I am getting all of the above!

Five Pounds of Muscle.

I've been working out with my trainer for about three months now. We decided it was time to do another fitness assessment. So that means I spent the 6am hour today doing the following:

• Holding a stretching position to test my flexibility. (Still the same as last time. Which is good. I have always been flexible.)
• Getting weighed. (I've dropped a pound in the past three months.)
• Getting pinched to measure body composition. (I've lost 5%. That's pretty good.)
• Getting my blood pressure checked. (Now 112 over 78... Last time it was 110 over 90. So I have improved a lot there.)
• Running on a treadmill. (I actually had to run this time, at an insanely high incline. My heart rate wasn't hitting the maximum. So I had to run to make it happen. Ugh. I hate running. But it means I am way more fit than last time.)
• Doing push ups. (I actually did one less than last time. But in all honesty, last time, my push ups sucked ass. I wasn't going all the way down like I did today.)

After the measurements were taken, the trainer calculated that I had gained five pounds of muscle in the past three months. This is quite good for only working out withe her twice a week. But now, she wants me to be more efficient with losing weight. So she is insisting on weighing me every week now.

Ugh.

I don't really care what I weigh. I am more about how things fit and how I look in stuff. And lately, my boobs look a little bigger because my stomach is flatter. (Nice!) And the arms and shoulders are a lot more toned than they were before. Oh! And my thighs are starting to tone too.

So this means I HAVE to eat well. Now I have someone holding me to my 15 pound weight goal.

Wrap Dresses for Fall.

I am so tempted to just go out and make my entire fall wardrobe about the wrap dress.

It's so easy to wear for pretty much any body type. It's easy to pack and go in your gym bag yoga bag, Alexander McQueen suit case, etc... And it's easy to dress it up or down, depending on your occasion. (Going to work? Throw on closed-toe pumps and layer long necklaces. Going to dinner? Throw on peep toe pumps, a cocktail ring or a chunky necklace that hits you at your clavicle.)

I have two wrap dresses now. One is more summery, and won't be wearable by November probably. So I would LOVE to get another one. So far, my favorite is the Diane vonFurstenburg red ruffle dress.



So cute and so saucy. Maybe not work appropriate. But I love it just the same.

The Toxins Are Being Released.

I have spent the past few days really exhausted. So exhausted, I can barely muster the energy to get up and walk around at times.

Prior to getting exhausted, I had what felt like was the beginning of a cold. My throat was a little sore each morning I woke up. And my nose was a little stuffed. But as they day progressed, the cold symptoms would leave... Only to return the next day.

I was chatting with someone about my symptoms the other day and they said it was probably due to the 30-day challenge that I am feeling this way.

"Huh?" I thought.

I knew the exhaustion was from the challenge. It's always around the halfway point that your body just wants to collapse, and you have to use your mental determination to keep going in the challenge. But the cold symptoms?

This person mentioned that you do so much Bikram day after day consecutively, your body begins to become more efficient at releasing stuff that is stored up. Quite a few people, once they have done a couple of 30-day challenges, will actually get these symptoms too.

It's nothing to fear. It just means the body is progressing and working harder.

Makes sense to me. I don't have the cold symptoms anymore. And I took today off from work because I badly needed some rest. I am feeling better though.

Need A Charge?

I know where you can get one easily...

On the walk to yoga yesterday, I saw something that frightened me a little... I saw one of those electronic boxes on the sidewalk wide open with the wires and switches exposed!



What the hell? How does that happen? There were no workmen in sight... So it wasn't a matter of them opening the box and then walking away for a second. There was no truck and no workers anywhere in sight. Just the open box.

It may not be as dangerous as I think it to be... But still, this is unacceptable. Especially when it is on a side walk near a housing project where children live and play, AND near a day care center. Oh! AND it was right outside a pet day spa too.

What the hell?

Simply Vera: Simply Not Worth It.

I learned one thing a few years back... Vera Wang wedding gowns, although beautiful, were complete pieces of crap.

When you hear about a bride having to get stitched into her gown moments before she walks down the aisle because it has fallen apart, that keeps you from ever wanting to try the brand.

So I learned, "Vera Wang... Beautiful pieces to look at. Horrible quality and construction. Unless she is doing it personally for you."

But, despite having been soured on the wedding line, I was actually looking forward to her mass production low-end line launching at Kohl's this week called, "Simply Vera." The previews of the piece I had seen looked really cool. But it wasn't until the pieces had launched on the website that I was able to get a close-up look at the quality. And all I have to say is...

"Yuck!"

The one piece that I liked looking at the most was this adorable long textured coat.



But when you look up close at the piece, you see that it isn't lined. It's a $128, and it isn't even lined? What?



Also, the stitch of the knit is really immature looking. Very thick. Not quite sophisticated.

Don't get me wrong, it's a fine low-end piece... But not at the price they want you to pay. I would reprice it at $65.

Britney Spears: The VMA Performance.

Okay... Britney just did the opening performance for the VMAs. I have a question for you all...

"What the fuck is that?"

First, she lip synched. Now, I know, I shouldn't be surprised. But she was blatantly lip synching. And, she wasn't even lip synching well. It's almost as if she didn't even know the words.

Second, I hate the blue contact lenses she has been sporting lately. They look fake. But not in a cool way. She is trying to legitimately pass them off as natural. Ugh.

Third, she looked like crap trying to dance throughout the performance. She clearly hadn't rehearsed enough. The Husband mentioned while watching it with me, "Does she not know the dance moves?" And if he can spot that she looks like she doesn't know what the next step is coming up, then you know it's bad. (This is a man who likes to do a move he calls "The Lawnmower" when he gets "down" on the dance floor.)

Finally, she lacks her confidence. She used to know she was "the shit." It's clear, now, that she has no confidence in herself. The whole performance was just bad. The song is good. (But really, give a good beat some repeating lyrics, and it'll probably get some good air play.) But she lacked attitude in performance.

It was really painful to watch. Even more painful was watching the celebrities in the crowd looking up at her at the end of it and some not even clapping. I think for them, like with me, it took a few moments to register that the "train wreck" was done on stage.

Speaking of train wrecks... Sarah Silverman... I love you normally doll. But your material really sucks tonight. That's why no one was laughing.

I think the MTV awards shows are o-v-e-r. The fashion is usually pretty bad. Everyone performs half (if not fully) intoxicated. And often, the performances suck too.

Fashion Inspirations: Eva Marie Saint.

I have been trying to find more intriguing "classic" films to my Netflix queue lately. And really, it almost doesn't get any more classic than some of Hitchcock's films. One I really enjoyed was "North by Northwest."


It's a suspenseful tale of mistaken identity. But their is certainly humor, sex and of course, excellent fashion, in this film. Femme fatale of the film Eve, played by Eva Marie Saint, is definitely a gal from whom to take fashion lessons.

She is definitely a "classic" girl, with her pencil skirts, pumps, beautifully coiffed hair and perfect make-up. She moves and breathes with perfect poise... But yet, at the same time, her character is definitely dangerous and not afraid to get in the mix of things.

If I ever need to "class" and "poise" things up a bit, I know I can channel Eva Marie Saint from this film.

Bikram Yoga Challenge: The Halfway Point.

I am now 16 classes into my 30-Day Bikram Yoga Challenge. Yay!

I missed Tuesday's class this week because I was just too dang tired after acupuncture. So that meant I had to pull a "double" sometime to make up for it. And that day was yesterday, Saturday.

I started the day off at the 9am class. Then I turned around and came back for the 3pm class. I was a bit worried at first that doing two classes that close together would leave me completely exhausted and unable to function straight... But I was wrong. Because it was so hot out and because I had gone earlier in the day, my joints and muscles were really "juicy." So I actually had a better class the second time around.

So now I have 14 classes in 14 days to get through. But so far, so good.

Wedding Dresses.

I have had quite a few conversations recently with various friends about wedding dresses.

I have to admit... I was quite an unusual bride. I wouldn't say I was "disconnected" about the whole wedding process. It's just that by the time I got married, I had spent so much time working with brides and weddings that I was so NOT interested in having a wedding myself. But The Husband really wanted one. And I am very glad we did have one.

But I wasn't the usual bride where I talk about my wedding and share all the details with everyone. I did not want a shower. I certainly did not want a bachelorette party. I barely wanted to register. (We had a lot of what we needed already.) And one thing I certainly did not do was force friends or family to come out shopping with me for my gown.

There's certainly nothing wrong with having that tradition. But I am the kind of person who just likes to get things done when I have it on my agenda. And waiting around for friends and family, and then have to take into consideration their opinions, was not my thing. So I bought my gown alone.

I wore a Rivini silk mikado A-line strapless gown. There were tiny buttons running down the back. There was sheer material at the drop waist that added texture to the middle section with a "swooping" effect. I added a hot pink flower pinned to the waist. There was absolutely no veil. And I wore hot pink flip flops with a white peony flower on them underneath.

I styled my own hair for the day. In fact, I had no idea how I was gonna wear it till about an hour before I had to go take pictures. I had been styling my centerpieces up until about two hours before the wedding. (I refused to let other people do a lot of things for me at the wedding.)

Here was the final result.



It was really important to me that on my wedding day I look like me.

I have seen so many brides look un-like themselves in my time. Especially when they tie their hair up in a french knot with a tiara and a veil. The tiara and veil thing I can kinda understand. But I think if you don't wear your hair up that often in your every day life, you really shouldn't do a sleek up-do on your wedding day. It's un-natural. Instead, do a looser up-do knot, and add some texture to it.

I could go on and on with wedding advice for others. But I left that world about four years ago. And I wanted to post a picture of me in my wedding dress because a few of my friends have asked to see one.

I still have the dress, the flower and the flip flops. And I still love the whole outfit today, three years after getting married. I would not change a thing about that day.

My Style.

I finished reading Nina Garcia's The Little Black Book of Style. It was a brilliant, useful and quick read. All style books should get to the point like this one.

But after reading it, I began to assess what my style make-up is. This meant I had to think about what is in my closet. What I actually wear.

I have determined the following:

• I am a mixture of classic, bohemian and preppy...
• 10% Classic
• 45% Preppy
• 45% Bohemian
• I aspire to have beautiful but, ultimately, low maintenance hair. (I like to "wash and go" and have it look "mussy." I used to straighten it every day. So NOT my style anymore.)
• I love simple looks, if they are truly effortless.
• I am always more about comfort than looks. (This kinda goes with the last point.)

I'll definitely do posts in the coming days that illustrate all the above components. But I have to tell you, Garcia's book is a "must-have." There are so many style books that are complete crap. But hers is definitely one of the best ones I have seen out there.

"How's Work Going?"

It's been an odd couple of weeks... I've had a few former work colleagues contact me asking how my current job is going.

It's odd because I don't really keep in touch that often (though I would very much like to) with former work colleagues. But this gives me a chance to write about my current job, which I haven't had a chance to really do since joining.

The short of it is, I love my current job.

When Joe the Shaman told me last week that I had "manifested something great" for myself, he wasn't lying. I have. When I left my job last fall, I was so emotionally, mentally and creatively burnt out. And I had no one to blame but myself for the situation.

But I quit my job and decided to rest and let the next job "come find me." I thought long and hard about what my priorities were at this stage in my career, and I turned down any opportunity that didn't fit in line with those priorities... Which included:

• A reasonable work day. (I work strictly 9am to 5pm now.)
• A competitive salary. (I make what I think is extremely fair compensation now.)
• Being able to see my recommendations come to fruition. (If I recommend we do something, and there are resources for it, it gets done. Bottom line.)
• Having transparency into what I was contributing. (It's been very clear whether or not something I have done or recommended has been successful. So far, I am doing a very,very, very good job.)
• Working with extremely smart and productive people. (People who are focused and just like to get things done.)

These are things that I am very grateful for... And, on top of all this, I get an INCREDIBLE vacation package. (I know you know... I've written about it before.)

I think having a job you like going to every day is important. And I wouldn't want to live any other way. Don't get me wrong though, if I lost this job tomorrow and I HAD to have an income, I would go out there and get a job... Any job. But I wouldn't look at is a "long term" job. I would continue to try and find one that fit me better in the mean time.

And besides, I no longer choose to have my happiness based on what job I have. The job should compliment my life, but not identify it.

It's similar to when I was 22 and living in Tucson and miserable... I decided the job I had (producing TV news and promotions) wasn't worth having to live in that city anymore. So I decided to up and move to NYC. And all the pieces just fell into place work-wise. So did my living situation and social life.

I wasn't worried about making the wrong decision. I was worried about making no decision.

Sometimes, you just have to take a leap of faith.

Style Book: The Little Black Book of Style.

I am such a sucker for style books. Whenever a new one comes out, I will usually buy it. Style books and etiquette books are my two vices.

(Well, I actually have more than just those two, but that's for another post. And actually, I don't consider buying any and every style book that comes out to be a "moral weakness." Especially if I actually read and use the books.)

The latest book to be added to my style collection is Nina Garcia's The Little Black Book of Style.

For those of you not in the know, Nina Garcia is the Fashion Director of Elle Magazine as well as a contributor on the the show Project Runway.

I picked up the book, which came out this week, from Borders downstairs at lunch. I have read through the opening pages of the book and know I will LOVE it. Garcia talks about growing up as a child near the equator and how her parents influenced her view on fashion. (They were very fashionable people themselves.)

Flipping through the titles of the book's chapters, it looks to be a very promising read. Especially the chapter on "Insider Tips and Tricks."

I'll let you know how the read goes when I finish it tomorrow afternoon.

Till then, I leave you with these famous words...

"Fashion fades. Style is eternal."

"If It Doesn't Sparkle, What's The Point?"

Seriously people... What is the point?

I'm not talking diamonds... Or smiles... What I'm talking about is "sparkling water."

The name says it all... "sparkling water." Therefore, it's supposed to be "sparkling"... Or in this case, "carbonated and bubbly." But apparently, The Husband doesn't always agree with me.

See, I have a habit. When I go into the fridge and pull out one of the half dozen bottles of Poland Springs Sparkling Water, I expect it to still have carbonation in it. If it does not, I will turn it upside down and dump it all out.

This upsets The Husband, even though I buy the groceries in the house.

He sees it as "wasteful" to dump an entire bottle out. And while I don't disagree with him on that fact, I hold him responsible for the lack of carbonation in the bottle.

See, he doesn't put the caps back on the bottles tight enough. I simply MUST hear a "fssss!" sound when I open a bottle of sparkling water. If I don't hear it, I can pretty much guarantee you that whatever is left in the bottle is going to get dumped out.

I mean, have you ever tasted sparkling water with no carbonation? It's nasty! And pointless.