The South End Is Not Over.

In case you didn't know...

The South End Is Over. (A few people have sent this to me today!)

I disagree with the writer. I think there is still wonderful diversity in the South End, and that's why I like living there. Just because the neighborhood isn't what it used to be doesn't mean it's void of diversity.

It's just a different kind of diversity now. In fact, one could argue that the South End is even MORE diverse now because it does have the "suburban" set there.

So, no, I don't think the South End is over. It's just evolving beyond what it was before.

And those people who are upset that it is changing... All I can say to you is, "Don't leave. If you leave, then I would have to leave too. I like having all kinds of people in my neighborhood. If you want the South End to be as diverse as it always has been, then it's your responsibility to stay. Let's evolve together."

"Otherwise, don't complain."

A New Missus...

I figured it was time to design (using Design-Her-Gals) a new version of The Missus.




My hair has changed in the past year. And so have my bag and shoes. I no longer wear my hair wavy. And it's much shorter. And I rarely leave the house without my ruby slipper Jimmy Choos on my feet.

Girlie stuff is so much fun!

The Day When The Scary Things Come Out!

Yep... Today is Halloween. And while I am sure there will be all kinds of creatures out lurking the streets of Boston tonight, we here in Downtown Crossing have already seen our first scary thing today.

Well, we have seen (and heard) it repeatedly over the last few weeks.

It usually starts right lunchtime, outside the Borders Bookstore. You always hear it first. And you may confuse it with the howling of a coyote, or even a feral cat. But eventually you realize that it ain't an animal howling.

No, it's just Coco.

Coco is one half of Coco & Lafe. They are a street-performing duo. I've seen them over on Newbury Street as well as in Downtown Crossing these past few weeks. And their music PAINS me.

Actually, to be fair, Lafe (the man) is a good performer. I can actually get into the music when he is singing. But Coco?

She kinda "loco." She wails. And not in the good way. It's just too painful to listen to her.

I can't wait for the weather to get even colder, and for the duo to disappear from their regularly-scheduled afternoon playing. It's too painful.

Scary thing, go away!

My So-Called Quiz.

Still unwinding from the Asshole Convention... So I decided to finish drinking my pop while surfing Buzz Sugar.... And that's when I happened upon the "My So-Called Life" quiz.

Now, I hated this show when it came on in 1994. I watched maybe one episode. And that was because the writing on the show was hyped up in the media. But it was a bad show. And the writing was awful too. And I was happy when it got 86'd from prime time.

But despite only ever seeing one full show, I somehow managed to score the highest on the quiz.

This show was cliche teen-drama-writing at its most formulaic. It was so bad. And I am severely ashamed that I have scored the highest on it.

A million cool points should be taken away from me. And I only had 10 cool points to begin with! Aww man!

Asshole Convention.

Sometimes, there's an "asshole convention" at Au Bon Pain here in Downtown Crossing.

Dear "Betch" Behind Me In Line At Au Bon Pain,

Forgive me, please. I didn't realize the Asshole Convention started at 11:50am today.

But it's my bad. I should have realized that with the crowds here in Downtown for the Red Sox parade today, things would be a bit more crowded than usual. And that the Asshole Convention would be starting even more promptly than usual.

Normally, I get to Au Bon Pain to get my soup a little before noon to avoid the crowds and the usual Asshole Convention start time. So it's my fault, really. I should have been thinking ahead.

I should have expected you to get huffy and say curtly "PLEASE MOVE!" when I was standing in your way at the register, patiently waiting for the kind cashier to hand me my soup.

I should have anticipated things were not moving to your desired speed. And I certainly shouldn't have responded to you with "Wow! I didn't know the Asshole Convention was today!"

I mean, because I do know there is one every day at noon. So it would have been more proper to respond with,"Wow! I didn't know the Asshole Convention started early today!"

So I apologize.... For not anticipating your grumpiness and foul mood. And for not sniping back at you with a more accurate response.

Sorry.

-The Missus

P.S. Here's a pretty cute picture that I hope cheers you and the rest of the Asshole Convention up...

Interval Training.

Because I have three weeks till my vacation, I decided to let my trainer know that I want to step it up a little more in the next few weeks. Besides making me do a lot of core exercises this morning, she put together a "homework" plan for me... Interval training doing sprints on the treadmill. And I begin them tonight!

Here's how it breaks down:

5 minutes - Warm-up walk.
30 seconds - Run at 4.5 MPH.
1 minutes - Stop completely. No running or walking.
30 seconds - Run at 5.0 MPH.
1 minutes - Stop completely.
30 seconds - Run at 5.5 MPH.
1 minutes - Stop completely.
30 seconds - Run at 6.0 MPH.
1 minutes - Stop completely.
30 seconds - Run at 6.5 MPH.
1 minutes - Stop completely.
30 seconds - Run at 6.0 MPH.
1 minutes - Stop completely.
30 seconds - Run at 5.5 MPH.
1 minutes - Stop completely.
30 seconds - Run at 5.0 MPH.
1 minutes - Stop completely.
30 seconds - Run at 4.5 MPH.
3 minutes - Walk cool down.

It's a progressive climb to reach you max in terms of sprinting. If I can still maintain my core at 6.5 miles per hour, then I have to go to 7. Once you hit your max, you then climb back down using the same pattern.

The trainer explained that interval training is great for extra calorie burn. Your body will aggressively keep burning calories after you have stopped running. For a few hours at least.

Pabelbon's Wife's Bag.

So, I'm over at Boston.com, flipping through the celebration photos from last night's game... And they all are the same thing over and over again... The guys celebrating in the club house, spraying champagne all over each other.

Then I get to the series of photos where the players are celebrating with their families, right after the game, on the field. I was about to stop flipping when I came across this photo...

This photo (of Papelbon and his wife kissing) pulled me in. Why? Because of her bag.

I love her bag. It's the Chloe Bay bag. And it's de-lish.

She has phenomenal taste. I am so happy for her and her taste. And of course because her husband helped win the World Series for Boston. But I celebrate her fashion first.

Everyone Screens Their Calls, I Guess.

So... I have to see a special doctor this month. I had to see them last month too. But I am having some problems getting everything in order for the appointments this month.

Prior to seeing the doctor, I have to take a special medication. It's a medication loaded with hormones, and makes me break out as a result. I also turn into a bit of a raging bitch while on it.

However, the medication isn't my problem. My problem is I am having a hard time getting a hold of anyone in my doctor's office. I tried repeatedly on Friday and have tried all this morning. No one is picking up or returning phone calls. WTF?

I need to confirm the days I will be seeing my doctor this month. And, I need to get a refill on my prescription, which I am supposed to start taking tomorrow.

My doctor told me when she wrote the prescription out for me last time that there would be three automatic re-fills associated with it. Well, there aren't. I need her authorization for it. And no one is eff-ing calling me back!

Argh!!!

Funny thing is, I don't even need the medication. It's just a standard part of the freaking procedure. The doctor gives it to everyone. Looks like I will not be taking it this month. Normally, I am one of those anal retentive people that follows doctors' instructions to the "T." But this time around, I don't think I'm gonna.

I don't want to be a raging bitch again. And I don't want to deal with the break outs that I am having now as a result of taking the pill last month.

UPDATE:
I called the office again this afternoon. And double-teamed them... I called from my desk phone and my cell phone at the same time. I was on hold for about 15 minutes before someone picked up again. I confirmed my appointments for this month. Still waiting for the nurse to get back to me regarding my prescription refill though.

Three Weeks????

I just realized this morning that in three weeks I will be going on vacation.

Wow! Time flew by! I feel like I just booked the vacation... Now I have to schedule in things that I normally do before I go on vacation.

• Color hair.
• Spray tan.
• Waxing (Ouch!).
• Buy the SPF 70.
• Squeeze in a few extra abs classes. (Though, I tried on my two-piece this weekend... And the training sessions and yoga I have been doing have TRULY paid off.)
• Stock up on Lara Bars to pack.
• Put together packing list.
• Put together book reading list.

Funny enough, a co-worker of mine sent this feature from the NY Times on affordable Turks and Caicos vacations.

I have stayed at one of the hotels that they mentioned in the piece, The Sands. That was a great hotel. However, my favorite hotel is the one we will be staying at in a few weeks, The Royal West Indies.

I like the RWI better because of it's location... It's right on Grace Bay Beach. It's next to the Club Med (in case you need extra night life close by). And it's within walking distance of the shopping area. So you can go pick up a pizza, groceries and stuff easily.

The T&C i a great destination for a vacation. For couples... Or for a family with young children. The flights are easy. (There are occasionally direct flights from Boston. Otherwise, you fly through Miami.) And the T&C is really a relaxing place to go. It's not crazy like other Caribbean islands. My favorite things to do there are sleep, read and swim a little.

It's the best place to vacation. And it's affordable. I can't wait to go!

The Sox Sweep It!!! Free Furniture!!!

Yay! The Sox won! And that means some of you lucky bastards out there are getting free furniture!

My friend Wighty was one of the smart people who decided to buy a couch from Jordan's back in April. And because the Sox won the series, he now gets his couch for free.

Lucky bastard!

(On a side note, I'd like to point out to Wighty that I knew life would be a little more fruitful for him once he was allowed to take a break from the daily grind. Congrats to him!)

Doo Yoga.

So, about a year and a half ago, I decided I was tired of The Husband not being able to touch his toes.

Sure, he's a very tall man. And it takes some extra effort for him to be able to reach down and touch them... But that's not excuse. Flexibility is the key to longevity. And with his current state of flexibility versus my state of flexibility means I am going to outlive him by a few decades.

So, to help him live longer, I decided to buy him a beginning yoga DVD. And to motivate him to do the DVD, I bought him a super cool yoga mat.

A Scooby Doo Yoga mat.



It's a pretty incredible yoga mat. I mean, it says, "Doo Yoga" on it... How can you NOT want to do yoga when you have a mat that sweet around?

Well, he had only done the yoga DVD a few times over the year and some months. So I decided that if he wasn't going to enjoy that yoga mat, I was gonna.

And you wouldn't believe (or perhaps you would) the number of compliments I get on the mat. I even get the compliments from people whose yoga practice I am in awe of...

"I love your mat!"
"Hey! You're the one with the Scooby Doo mat!"
"Where'd you get that mat? I LOVE it!"
"That's the best mat!"

At first, I was a little embarrassed about bringing it to the studio. But the fact that I have only gotten compliments on it makes me feel better.

I came across the mat at Whole Foods one afternoon while grocery shopping. As soon as I saw it, I new The Husband would get a kick out of it. And he did. But, it wasn't enough of a kick to motivate him to do the yoga.

So Scooby is mine now. And I will hopefully still have him long after The Husband is gone... Because he still can't touch his toes. So I have accepted that my final years (50+ years from now) will be without him.

The Gold Questions?

So... Had another vivid dream last night. This one, I am completely confused on, and the dream dictionary is absolutely no help.

In this dream, I was preparing to take a test. I was a little freaked out by the idea of taking the test, as it was multiple choice. And in my subconscious life, as in my waking life, I am no good at multiple choice tests.

Because I was freaked out, my Mum (whom I never dream about) gave me some advice on taking it.

"All you have to do on multiple choice tests," she explained, "is answer just the gold questions."

Huh?

In my dream, I didn't ask her to elaborate. In my dream life, I figured once I got to the test, I would know what she meant.

Then, I am at the school right before my test. But I have to pee really bad. (Again with the peeing dreams!!!!) So I find a bathroom. But it is absolutely disgusting. Horrid. Instead of stall doors, there are translucent shower curtains. And they are smeared with blood.

Eww!

I peer into one of the stall cubicles. In the toilet is a tube, similar to the kind they use for IUIs. But it's an empty tube. I go into the second cubicle, and it too has smears of blood everywhere. So I decide not to pee.

Here's what I do know about the main elements of the dream:

Mother - To dream that you are having a conversation with your mother, denotes a matter that has preoccupied your mind and you are not sure how to deal with it in your waking life.

Exam - To dream that you are taking an exam, signifies insecurities, fear of not meeting others' expectations, and fear of failure.

Gold - The golden color reflects your spiritual rewards, richness, refinement and enhancement of your surroundings.

Question - To dream that someone is asking your a question, suggests that you have information or knowledge that needs to be shared.

Blood - To see blood in your dream, represents life, love, and passion as well as disappointments.

Urination - To dream that you are urinating, symbolizes a cleansing and release of negative or repressed emotions. (And since I didn't urinate in my dream, I am obviously still holding onto these emotions.)

Bella Coats!

Today was a proper fall day. Proper!

It started off just slightly chilly. But the Sun was out. And it was windy. So all I needed was a scarf with my sweater. But by late afternoon, I had to bust out my wool coat. And it's expected to be quite chilly tomorrow.

So it got me thinking back to Autumn coats. Ones that you can wear before it gets really cold out. Here are a few I have found and like very much...

Bella Coat - J. Crew


Marc by Marc Jacobs Felt Coat - Neiman Marcus


Wool Cape - Saks Fifth Avenue Collection


Vivienne Westwood Anglomania Gainborough Shawl Coat - Net-A-Porter.com

So GOOD.

A few weeks back I wrote about how I had been looking for some John Derian pieces for my new little home office. But I couldn't find any where in Boston that sold his pieces.

Well, since then, a few people have written in and told me that I had to check out GOOD on Charles Street in Beacon Hill, as they definitely stocked his pieces. And boy do they!!!

I headed over to GOOD after the doggie parade, since I was already in that area. (I love Beacon Hill. Different from the South End, but it is quite charming.) I was able to pick up two pieces from the good selection they had...

Rooster Round Plate




Encourage Good Intentions Plate



One of the shop people told me that anything in John Derian's collection they could special order for me, and that they will have a new shipment of his pieces coming soon. I am hoping they will have some of the pirate pieces I have seen around. But I will definitely going back in the not too distant future to check out whatever they have in.

This pieces ROCK!

Such Divas!

It had been a gorgeous Autumn day in the Common! There was a slight chill to the air... It was a little bit windy... Leaves were falling... And dogs were dressed to kill.

I hung out a little today with some new friends at the annual doggie Halloween parade that is held here in Boston each year. Here are a few snapshots of some of my favorite costumes... (Though, the best dressed doggie - a Westie named Walter - I did not get a picture of... Tear!)

Biker Dawgs


Lobster Dog


Naughty School Girl Puppeh


Banana Doggie


Golfing Puppies


I didn't catch a shot of one of my favorites... Hugh Hefner Dog and His Bitches Next Door. But there were a ton of creative costumes marching around. It was difficult to figure out which ones to snap a picture of!

The parade this year ended at the Common. Before this year, it always ended at the South End Open Market. I guess it's no longer just a South End event. It's gotten so popular and big that they had to expand it.

Arm Candy.

Oh dear...

Just when I thought I was all set for bags, I come across this gorgeous red textured-leather Foley + Corinna tote bag.



And, I am even more tempted to get this bag because it is 20% off until next Thursday.

I already have one Corinna bag, which I bought last Spring. I love it and carry it at least twice a week lately.

Hmm...

Bikram Yoga Tips For Beginners.

It's funny... Last night, after my Bikram class, I had the thought that it was time to do another post on tips for new people looking to start practicing Bikram yoga. Then, this morning, someone left a comment asking me for them.

It's meant to be, I guess!

Anyway, I know I have posted these tips before... But occasionally I think of new things to add it. So here goes.

Bikram Yoga Tips for Beginners:

1. Arrive early to your first few classes. The first time you go, you will have paper work to fill out. The next few times after, you want to get there about 15 minutes before class starts (at least) to acclimate to the heat in the room. Be careful though, it easy to doze off if you lay down on your back.

2. Where as little clothing as possible, but still be appropriate. A lot of girls tend to wear long yoga pants. I did that for over two years. I should have switched to shorts a lot sooner. I recommend yoga shorts for girls, and a yoga tank top or sports bra. Guys seem to be a little shy in their first few classes and don't want to take off their shirts. Big mistake. A loose t-shirt gets in the way. And to be quite honest, even if you are the hottest guy we've ever seen, chances are, the other people around you probably won't be checking you out during class. You get so focused on your practice that you don't often see the details on another person.

3. Remember to drink water; but only between postures. My sister (Red) and I had a similar experience in our first classes. We both felt so nauseated that we were afraid to drink water. We thought if we did, we would puke. But you NEED to sip water during the class. But SIP it. Don't CHUG it. And remember to drink only between postures, as it is less distracting to other people around you.

4. If you feel like you are going to pass out, sit down on your knees. I've been so tired lately, I have had to sit down during a few poses myself yesterday. We almost had a girl faint in class a few Fridays back. The teacher gave her some coconut water. She was back in action a few minutes later. (Coconut water helps!)

5. Don't talk during class. Seriously, this one annoys me greatly. New people, especially if they come with friends the first time, tend to want to talk. But don't do it. You will get evil stares for breaking the silence of the meditation.

6. Don't leave the classroom. You bet your ass it's hot in there. And you better believe the first class you will want to leave. But don't do it. Not even to pee. Also, don't tell the teacher that's it too hot/cold in the room, and that they need to do something about it. Your job is to just practice. You are not in control. You have to adapt.

7. Accept that even if you have done a different kind of yoga for years, Bikram yoga will still kick your ass the first time. Seriously. I have seen people come to class and be all "Well, I do Baptiste yoga. So this class won't be so hard." Guess what? Yes it will. Bikram rooms are bit hotter than Baptiste rooms. AND you hold the poses for much longer. Bikram is a "hard-core" but "beginner-friendly" yoga. So don't come into class on your high horse. Your fall will be that much greater.

8. Don't eat three hours (at least) before class. Sometimes, I don't eat for for or five hours before class. If you have a heavy meal that you don't digest before class, you will regret it when you bend forward and feel like you're going to puke.

9. REST after final breathing. There are so many people I see (both new and experienced) that hop up after class as soon as the final breathing exercise is done. This is bad. You need to plan for time to rest on your back after class. Getting up too quickly just to get out of the hot room (or catch your train) means you're not taking advantage of all the hard work you just spent 90 minutes doing. Your body needs to rest. For at least two minutes. I prefer five minutes myself.

That's it for now. I may come back and add on to this list. But I hope you found it helpful.

I Need Short Shorts.

So... I've been doing all this yoga (three years as of a few weeks ago) and all these training sessions with a trainer at the gym... And it's paying off. So much that I am in need of shorter shorts to wear during Bikram yoga classes.

Up until about six months ago, I was still wearing yoga pants to class. Then I felt comfortable enough to wear shorts. Now though, my shorts (which come up to under my thighs) are just too long. And I look like an ass clown. I am more toned in my legs (but still curvy) and look stupid trying to cover up the curves with baggy shorts.

The baggy shorts actually make my thighs look bigger.

So I am in need of shorter shirts for yoga. Preferably made of sweat-wicking material, and cover just the tops of my thighs...

Like these:

Spark Short

Studio Short

Swimming, Dolphins and Whales.

I haven't been to acupuncture in a few weeks... Yet, I am finding myself very tired lately. (Additionally, I am very busy at work lately too... Which is why I am light on blogs this month. So, apologies everyone.)

Anyway, with all this "tiredness" comes weird dreams. There was the "Gingerbread Box" one the other day. (Which I still have not interpreted.) Then, last night, I had another weird dream. This dream was another swimming dream. I used to only have those after I went to acupuncture. But I haven't had acupuncture in two weeks.

In last night's dream, I was on vacation somewhere tropical. And I was swimming in a very clear ocean. I was in a shallow area of the ocean, standing up. And a dolphin swam up to me and "kissed" my leg. Then, a hundred feet in the distance, I saw a whale jump up out of the ocean and land back in it.

When I have dreamed about dolphins before, I know that it relates to spiritual guidance. Swimming dreams pertain to exploring your unconscious mind. And whales also represent being in tune with spirituality.

What's with all the spiritual elements? I have no idea what they mean, or what I am supposed to get from them.

Robert Rodriguez Hooded Coat.

There probably won't be much use for a new Fall coat this year, with the temperature trending so warm. I will likely have to go from no coat to my wool coat in the span of a few days. And that is disappointing. Not just for me, the girl who likes to dress for different seasons. I imagine it is disappointing for retailers too...

I was considering buying a new Fall coat for this season. The one I had my eye on? The Robert Rodriguez Hooded Coat at Neiman Marcus and Saks.

I love the hood on the back of it, and the length. It's got a preppy/funky feel to it. And it's light enough for layering. But that is really more a "Fall" thing to do. And I consider "Fall" temperatures to be strictly high 40s to mid 50s. And it's just to warm for this piece.

So I will not be buying it. But I do love it.

Heidi Montag & Spencer Pratt Make A Music Video.

I am truly sorry I don't have a file to embed this link for you all. But I promise, if you click on it, you won't be disappointed...

Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt make a music video.

Now this is just sad... I guess her recording contract isn't legit... Because if it was, the company would bankroll some kind of video shoot for you.

I didn't know Spencer was a videographer.

The best part of the video is when there's a fisherman on the rocks next to them as they're shooting.

Gingerbread Box.

I wasn't feeling too good last night.

I went to bed about 9pm. I woke up at about midnight and couldn't get back to sleep for about an hour. When I finally went to sleep, I had another odd dream.

In this dream, I was in a classroom. The teacher had a cupboard filled with things that she would pull out, and we would call out what they were.

Before the teacher had a chance to pull something out one time, I shot my hand up in the air. I knew that I would be able to name what it is once she pulled it out. I had no doubt in my mind.

She pulled out a box that appeared to be made out of gingerbread. It was decorated with hardened icing around the edges of the box.

I was about to say, "It's gingerbread!" But something stopped me.

I looked around at the faces of all the other students. They were mouthing to me what the answer was. But I couldn't really understand what they were saying. I did recognize that they weren't mouthing "gingerbread" to me though.

So I paused. And I looked at the box again. And I decided to just go with it.

"It's gingerbread," I told the teacher confidently.

"No," she said. "It's not gingerbread. It's 'purpose.'"

"'Purpose?'" I asked... All confused.

"Yeah, purpose!" agreed all the students with the teacher.

I was confused. I didn't get it. Everyone else acted like it was logical. To me, it made no freaking sense. What I saw was a gingerbread box. I didn't understand how everyone else got "purpose" out of that.

Then I woke up.

So, I don't know what the dream meant... But here's what the dream dictionary says about the elements:

• ginger - To see ginger in your dream, indicates security and comfort in your life. But you need to add some more excitement and variety to you life.
• bread - To see bread in your dream, represents the basic needs of life. Bread may signify the positive qualities and great things you have learned on your journey of life.
• box - To see a box in your dream, signifies your instinctual nature and destructive impulses. Alternatively, you may be trying to preserve and protect some aspect of yourself. The box may also symbolize your limitations and restrictions.

If anyone can interpret this for me, I would greatly appreciate it.

I Found A Desk Chair!

But I can't afford it... And therefore, will not be buying it. It's $1829...

But isn't it super pretty???



Gorgeous. And just the style of chair I was looking for too.

Dangit!

Where Did "Human's" Socks Go?

The Husband and I have been on a purge this weekend. We've both gone through out closet, and the shelves in our house, and sorted out stuff that needed to be done away with.

However, in the sorting of old white t-shirts (complete with yellow stains under the arms) and socks, "Human" (my husband) found himself in a compromising sock position...



These NINE black socks have no mates. Each black sock is different than the all the others. And he couldn't find the mates that go with them.

Now, I can understand someone having up to three pairs of socks that lose their mates over time (before you get a chance to clean out your drawers next)... But NINE pairs? That is simply unacceptable.

I do not doubt for a second that "Human" has worn the mismatched pairs together. But I now have a new rule that I am putting in place for him:

"Closet and drawers are to be cleaned out and sorted every season!"

This is ridiculous. Now he doesn't have enough pairs of socks to last him a whole work week. (I made him toss the mismatched ones.)

Fall Look: Sweater Dresses.

It seems like sweater dresses are becoming all the rage everywhere I look on the Internet.

I bought one by Vince a few months back that I am dying to wear. (It's just been too freaking warm lately!) But I have seen sweater dresses pop up on many of the websites I frequently scope out.

Here are a few cute ones:

Gap


Anthropologie


J Crew


Banana Republic


Twig (at Saks Fifth Avenue)

New Uggs.

I realize we are lucky here in the Northeast to have managed to squeeze out a few extraordinary weeks of warmth. However, I am not kidding myself...

I KNOW colder weather is like two seconds away. And I won't be able to continue wearing my little ballet flats everywhere. So I decided to take the plunge, and get another pair of Uggs.

My last pair kept me going through four winters. So, I decided to just stick with what I know works for me. Only this time, instead of calf-length black Uggs, I decided to go with the tall ones.



Same color. Same shoe style. Just higher up my leg.

Say what you will about Uggs*, I do like them. They are sturdy. They are incredibly warm. They are so comfortable.

And fashion for me is about comfort first.

*"They're ugly." "They're stupid." "They're ridiculously expensive." "They're dumb."

Dumbledore Is Gay.

This wasn't my reaction, but I found it to certainly be a funny one...



I kinda always thought, reading the books, that it was odd that Dumbledore and some of the other teachers never took spouses.

I like that J.K. Rowling made Dumbledore gay. It wasn't a needed part to the story, but it's nice to be able to get more information on characters outside it.

The World Takes Its Cues From "Human."

The Husband, or "Human" (as I like to call him), is quite the funny man.

Lately, "Human" has been taking his sweet-ass time getting out of bed in the morning. I'll come home from my training session at the gym on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:40 am, and he'll still be in bed.

This morning, I had no training session. So I decided to sleep in till 7:30 am. At that time, I got up and hopped into the shower.

When I got out, "Human" sniped, "About time you got out. It's getting late!"

"Well," I sniped back, "You know, you could get out of bed before me and get ready earlier. The world doesn't revolve around 'Human.'"

"No," he said. "It doesn't revolve around 'Human.' But the world does take its cues from 'Human.'"

The Husband lives in his own delusional universe. Or so, I have concluded.

Soxy Saturday.

I must confess, despite not being a baseball fan, I do own (and wear) a Red Sox cap on weekends.

But while I may be a very casual fan of the Sox, I have friends who are MAD WOMEN for the Sox... Two in particular...

Jeans-y and Soxy Lady.

Funny enough, both are going to Saturday's game at Fenway. Jeans-y is taking her granny, and Soxy Lady is taking her fiance. Lucky gals! I know how enthusiastic they are about going...

(And, they could probably get quite a bit of money for their tickets, should they decide not to go.)

Anyway... "Go Sox!"

Autumn?

I'm really not getting the weather lately. Where is Fall?

It's nearly November, and the leaves on the trees are mostly still green. Only a few have fallen. And it has been rather warm still.

Is Fall ever coming?

By the look of the weather widget on my Macbook this morning, it isn't coming over the weekend either...



The 70s? And sunny?

I predict an insanely warm Winter.

Denim of Virtue and Kovet Trunk Show.

Forget your tired twin sets, pressed dress pants and Lacoste polos... Bostonians need some "funk" in their style. Some thing with "virtue" and some thing others will "kovet" when you wear it!

Out of style ideas? Then you need some therapy...

Jean Therapy is having another one of its trunk shows this Sunday at the Hotel Commonwealth. On the style menu this time? Denim of Virtue and Kovet.




I'm tempted to go and try on the "Kindess" trouser. And I recently bought The Husband and really cool Kovet t-shirt the last time I was at Jean Therapy. It's good stuff. Comfy. Funky.

Gimme Gimme Gimme Shoes, Betch.

Wow... My friends all know what a fan of Kelly I am. I have sent them her Shoes. And there was that totally cool Top She Wanted To Borrow. And, she taught us all that You Can't Text-Message Brake-up.

But I am so grateful to Kelly for teaming up with Britney to produce a solid gold hit.



Yeah!

"I'm Gonna Wear My Wedding Dress Tomorrow."

One of the main attractions to my current job was that I could wear jeans every day to work if I wanted to. When I worked at various agencies, you often had to keep it a little "business" in case clients came in. And that just did not jive with my style. So you can imagine how relieved I am to be able to kick it casual every day in the office.

And most of my co-workers keep it casual in the office too. However, today we have a bit of an oddity... One of our co-workers is wearing a full business suit... And even a tie.

WTF?

I mean, he looks swell. The suit is nice. And the tie is nice. But it just doesn't fit.

"Maybe he's dressed up because 'Person X' from the U.K. office is here," said one co-worker. "'Person X' is nicely dressed. Maybe he wanted to be posh too?"

"Perhaps," I responded. "But if this is the direction we're going in, tomorrow, I'm coming to work in my wedding gown!"

"That would rock!" was her response.

Seriously though, I'm all for keeping my attire casual-fashionable. But please don't make me come to work dressed up! I would have to buy a ton of dress pants, because I don't really have any!

Sam La Grassa's - Never Eating There Again.

So many of my friends have told me I am quite lucky to be working downtown, right around the corner from Sam La Grassa's, the legendary sandwich joint.

I beg to differ.

My co-workers convinced me to order a sandwich from their for lunch today. They did warn me first though that the sandwiches were "monstrous." So I did kinda know what to expect when I ordered my pastrami on rye with spicy mustard.

What I did not expect was the stomach ache that came about halfway through one half of the sandwich!

Ugh!

I only got through 55% of my sandwich before I had to toss the soggy, beefy mess out. It was mostly tasty. But I had to take off about 70% of the meat that was on the sandwich just to get down what I was able to get down.

To make things worse, the gross pukey feeling stuck with me all afternoon. And it's a "yoga day" for me. So I had to go to class at 5:30pm.

Needless to say, it was a horrible class for me.

So far, I've downed three coconut waters to help make me feel better. But I think I may switch to soup and salad tomorrow. I've eaten my ration of meat for this week.

Blegch!

Seriously though... Who the HELL needs about a pound of meat on their sandwich? It was two regular-sized slices of rye bread! No one needs a sandwich quite that dense!

I am never eating there again.

Uggs Gone Uggly.

Well, they lasted me four winters here in Boston. I bought them in December 2003. And I loved them. They weren't the popular ones every other girls was wearing (with their jeans tucked into them when it wasn't snowing - yuck!)... But they were cute. And I used them as they were meant to be used...

In cold weather.

Not in the Summertime or when it was 50 degrees or warmer outside. They were strictly for cold and wet weather. And they were fantastic. But now, they are, well, completely worn out. Take a look for yourself...

They look good from the front and side still...


But when you look at the back of the heel, you can clearly see they have become worn through.


So it's time to replace my Uggly-worn Uggs. I just don't what to replace them with for this winter. Another paid of Uggs? Perhaps. I do love them for winter here in New England. And, despite wearing them everyday in winter, they held up for four years. So they are a quality product.

What's Up With All The Patent Leather?

Seriously... This is over kill.

I flip through the fashion magazines, and all of them mention patent leather accessories as being THE accessory to have this season. And I think that's quite fine for shoes. But bags? That's a whole different story.

I am not a fan of bags in patent leather. It's just too much shiny leather on one piece. Especially if it's a large bag. I actually think patent leather bags look cheap, even though they can cost an ass-load.

Check out these patent leather bags I have found online... (And think are completely over priced and look cheap!)

Large Fendi B Bag Tote, $2,070


Be & D Tote, $870


Miu Miu Large Patchwork Tote, $1,445


Marni Small Baloon Tote, $1,200


Vivienne Westwood Empire Bowling Bag, $730


Anya Hindmarch Art Logo Tote, $995


Michael Kors Ranger Patent Bag, $298


There's got to be a point where enough is enough when it comes to ugly bags and sky-high prices. Though, these look much better than the Louis Vuitton Tribute Patchwork $52,000 bag.

Vintage Maps.

I was aiming to go girlie with decorations for my cozy home office. But I have swung towards a "vintage" element for the wall where my desk rests.

Instead of a girlie bulletin board or girlie plates, I am going with these vintage map prints.



They were originally part of a 2008 calendar I picked up at Anthropologie yesterday afternoon. I don't do wall calendars, but I loved the maps. So I cut them out and intend to put them in some frames I found at Crate and Barrel.

My favorite of the vintage maps is the one of Tokyo. (A city I've always wanted to visit.)

Jo Malone White Jasmine & Mint.

About a month ago I got a fragrance sampler mailed to me from Saks Fifth Avenue. A few weeks later, I got one from Neiman Marcus. Then one came from Bergdorf Goodman. Each of the samplers was for Jo Malone, my favorite fragrance creator.

The featured fragrance in each of the samplers was a new one... White Jasmine and Mint. And it is divine!



Each sampler I pulled out and rubbed on my wrists. I let the husband smell test them. He approved! So off to Saks I was today to pick up a small bottle of it.

When I got there, Larry - the Jo Malone counter man - told me I was "in luck."

"When we first got the scent," he explained, "we sold out of it immediately. We keep running out. Everyone loves the smell of white flowers."

"And the mint if a nice surprise among the notes," I added.

He agreed. It's rare that anyone would want to wear mint. But with the jasmine, it works nicely. I am looking forward to blending it with the French Lime Blossom and the Vintage Gardenia I have from Jo Malone as well.

Desk Coaster.

Now that I have my pretty desk, I refuse to risk any stain marks on it. So I went out this afternoon in search of a fancy coaster for my desk...

I had y hopes set on finding something along the lines of a John Derian coaster. I love his decoupage pieces, and even have some plates that I managed to collect from a tag sale at The Evil Empire five years ago. But finding his pieces in Boston is rare. So I set my mind to finding something like it.

Well, I didn't come across anything Derian-esque... But I did find something I loved while at Anthropologie...



It's a porcelain coaster with butterflies and mini cherries on it. Very whimsical. Very feminine. I only picked up one, because that's all I need. So pretty!

Choco Choco House Cupcakes.

I spent the afternoon popping into the shops... I had spent the morning in the gym working out with The Husband. So by the time I finished at the shops (around 4pm) I was starving!

Walking home towards Tremont, I took a path down Pembroke Street. I have been into Choco Choco House once before. But this afternoon I noticed a sign out front that said they had cupcakes.

Cupcakes?!?!?!

I love cupcakes!

So I popped in and saw some of the dreamiest cupcakes in dreamy flavors. (ginger, lemon, orange, poppy seed, almond) I decided to pick up four to bring home.



I had one before dinner and one after. Indulgent, I know. But I was quite hungry, not having eaten anything since breakfast at 9am. So I was allowed to indulge. (Especially after burning 500 calories at the gym this morning.)

They are very tasty cupcakes. But I think they're prettier to look at. As far as cupcakes go, if I am looking to indulge my sweet tooth, I'd rather have a cupcake from The Buttery. But if I'm throwing a party and want something pretty, I would totally pick up the Choco Choco House cupcakes.

Yeah... I'm Not Lying.

I don't know if anyone at my work believed me when I told them the new T3 blow dryer I picked up at Sephora was "the shit."

"I can dry and shape my hair in 10 minutes!" I kept telling them over and over again.

They gawked at the price. ($200.) And I don't blame them, it is a ton of money to spend on a blow dryer.

"But it's so worth it! If it saves me time!" I countered.

I've gotten many compliments on my hair since using the new blow dryer. I even packed it in my purse one day, and brought it into work with me to show everyone how quiet it was. (That's when one of my co-workers noticed the rhinestones on the handle of the dryer... Which I hadn't noticed before and made me love it even more!)

My boss, a man, thought I was a little crazy with all my "blow dryer" talk and for bringing it in to the office with me. (I couldn't see his reaction when I crawled under my desk - which is next to his - to plug the dryer in and show everyone how quiet it was. He also looks at me weird lately when I start petting my hair and say, "My hair's so soft!")

I managed to entice one of my other co-workers to order it for herself. She has LONG, gorgeous red hair. And she prefers to let hers air dry, but it takes so long. I told her that the T3 dried my hair with out any frizziness.

"I don't need any product!" I kept saying. I also told her that Sephora has a great return policy. So if she didn't like it, she could return it.

Well, it arrived to her home the other day. As soon as she used it, she IM'd one of my other co-workers and confirmed it dried her hair VERY quickly. I believe she is really digging the dryer.

This is when one of my co-workers (the one who went with me to Jean Therapy last week) gave me a stern look and said...

"You're such an enabler when it comes to spending money! I spent $XXX on jeans. She spent $200 on a blow dryer!"

"Yeah," I said. "Though, I only lead you to QUALITY products that actually work. And now you don't need to buy jeans for at least another six months - if you follow Jean Therapy's care instructions. And the warranty on the hair dryer is fantastic."

She agreed. And it's true... It is a lot of money to spend on these things... But they are quality things. I research quite a bit online before I make a purchase.

The only place I tend to fail at the "quality return" from a product is with beauty and spa services. You can research some one's background as much as possible, and you can still end up with a bad haircut or a facial that makes you break out badly.

But when it comes to products that are tangible, I am pretty good at calling it.

Orange Juice - Ugh.

I am not a fan of juices.

Whether it's apple juice, grape juice, grapefruit juice, tomato juice or cranberry juice... I am not a fan. But the most offensive juice out there for me has got to be orange juice.

Why do I hate orange juice so much? I don't know. It's just never sat well with me. I especially despise juice with pulp! And now, I have to drink it every day. (Actually, all women should drink one glass a day, as it is the easiest way to get your folic acid.)

I may have to drink it. But I do not have to like it. It makes my belly hurt!

Which Way Does She Spin For You?

Look at the dancer spinning at this link here:

SPINNING DANCER

Which direction s she spinning in for you? Clockwise or Counter Clockwise?

This is driving me absolutely bonkers this afternoon!

Weekend Plans.

I've been so busy with work lately, as well as traveling out of town last weekend, that my blog posting has suffered. This weekend I plan to blog a bit more. I also plan on going shopping and head to the gym for a work out date with The Husband. And I am scheduled to meet a friend for coffee on Sunday afternoon in the South End.

Hopefully, I will be able to hit yoga once, if not twice, this weekend too. But I may have to take it easy on the yoga for a few weeks.

No matter what, I'm glad the weekend is nearly here.

The Orange Line Stinks.

This is not a posting to complain about the service of the T. I like the Orange Line's service. I have never had a reason to complain about that line when it comes to timeliness...

But the way it smells... That's a whole 'notha thing.

The Orange Line smells bad. I've been so exhausted this week (could be from the double dose of acupuncture I had on Tuesday and then on Wednesday again), that I couldn't muster the energy to walk the mile and a half to work today. So I popped into Backbay T station to catch the Orange Line to State Street.

I inserted my T pass, walked down the stairs, and the appropriate train was arriving. (This always happens for me when I take the Orange Line.) But once I hopped on the train, I got a grody surprise...

The air was filled with a moldy, tobacco-y, urine-y, puke-y smell. And no matter where I shuffled to in the train car, the smell was still around me.

As soon as I got to work, I ran to the bathroom and washed my hands four times... Just in case the smell and germs of the car latched on to me.

But you know what? Despite possibly needing a surgical mask and series of immunizations to ride the Orange Line... I don't care... As long as the train keeps running on time. That's all that matters to me.

New Desk Heaven.

The new desk I ordered from Crate and Barrel a few weeks ago arrived at 8am this morning. Yay!

I was grateful not to have to haul it up the stairs, as it was very heavy. But I did have to put it together. And I don't think I did a bad job...



It is so big! It holds everything... Including my scanner/printer. And yes, that is the new lamp I bought from West Elm on the right side of the desk. Soxy Lady wanted to know how I liked the lamp...

I do like it. And I think I am going to get the floor lamp as well. But, it is a very loud lamp. When you go to turn it on, you have to go through the cascading shells... And they clink loudly when being shuffled through. So that is the only bad thing.

Now I need a chair for the desk. Still haven't found one yet.

Four More Pounds Gone!

Wow!

I haven't weighed myself in a few weeks, and my trainer has forgotten to as well... But I weighed myself today, and am happy to report that I have dropped another four pounds. Yay!

I didn't even realize I had lost any weight. I mean, I haven't changed my eating habits at all. And I'm still the same caffeine fiend I have always been... So it's definitely from all the yoga and strength training I've been doing.

Imagine what would happen if I actually believed in dieting!

(That will never happen though.)

A Great Workout: Hopscotch!

I hadn't played hopscotch in probably 20 years... But I never realized that it was a great way to get some cardio in!

Seriously! My trainer made me do hopscotch this morning in our training session. Well, I didn't do it on a hopscotch grid, like you see on playgrounds. She took a rope ladder and laid it across the training floor. I then had to various hops, jumps, runs and leaps into each of the rope rungs.

Back and forth. Back and forth. Over and over and over and over again... It was insane! And my heart rate? It stayed up around 155 beats a minute! That's some serious cardio! And I burned 416 calories in my 60 minute session. (Normally, I burn about 300 weigh training with her.)

I swear, working out with a trainer is fantastic. It's not so much about the motivation, as I don't whine and do what she tells me to do with no complaints... It's more about the variety and innovation of stuff she has me doing. It's so cool!

Granola?

Hmm...

I know I made some just a week and a half ago. Yet, somehow, the entire batch of yummy super easy granola I made has disappeared.

But how can that be? I made quite a bit. And I didn't really get to enjoy any of it. Really, just a few spoonfuls was all I got.

So what happened to it? I'll tell you what happened to it!

A nearly six and a half foot Canadian behemoth snuck into my granola stash when I wasn't looking! He ate all my granola!

And worst of all... He doesn't even feel badly about it.

WTF?

"You ate all the granola?" I asked The Husband. I had just finished my dinner and wanted to grab some to top off my yogurt.

"Well, yeah," supplied The Husband. "When you have something that good lying around, it's gonna get eaten."

"But I barely got any!" I screeched. (I can't eat yogurt plain!)

"Oh well," was all The Husband replied.

This happens all the time, to be honest. My husband is a tall man who works out every day. And because he works out every day, he eats a lot. And since I buy the groceries in the household, it gets expensive.

But beyond that, I have to tell him specifically that certain foods were purchased with me in mind more than him. If I don't tell him, he will eat them. Like the granola. And certain yogurts. And sorbets.

The man can be a human garbage can if needed. As long as the food isn't too spicy, he'll take it down.

Man... I really wanted some granola! Now I have to go and make some more. But I have to buy more ingredients first!

"Make Out Therapy" Defined.

Making up new words is fun!

I was chatting at work with someone about something.

She asked me if I had seen the latest episode of The Hills. I told her I hadn't. She then told me that on the latest episode, LC and Brody make out.

"Why would LC do that with him?" she asked.

"I don't know," I told her. "She's lonely. Maybe she needed 'make out therapy?'"

"Make out therapy" is a phrase I made up out of nowhere. But, I think it really illustrates (when properly used) what LC is going through. She's been single all season. She's lonely. And she wants to kiss someone. So why not make out with a "kinda" ex-boyfriend?

Here's the break down of the definition...

"make out": kiss, embrace, or fondle with passion

"therapy": therapeutic treatment

"make out therapy": therapeutic treatment that involves kissing and fondling.

We could all probably use some "make out therapy" from time to time. (Though some of us only have it with our significant others... Rather than a variety of people. I don't feel like I am missing out though.)

Hmm... Ice Wines...

Never been much of a fan of white wines. They never packed the pizazz of red wines, particularly shiraz wines, that I love so much. However, this weekend, I have found a white version that I absolutely LOVE...

ICE WINES.

Saturday afternoon, The Husband and I decided to take a winery tour in NOTL. The Niagara region is an amazing little pocket known for producing wines in Canada. The best tasting of all the varietals (in my opinion) are the ice wines.

They are very sweet wines, made from grapes after they have been frozen on the vine. The freezing affects the water in the grapes without affecting the sugars in them... And this allows for a very sweet wine to be produced.

Ice wines are fantastic as dessert wines. Some Stilton, crackers and ice wine would be a dreamy dessert course for me.

The winery we toured was one of the larger ones in the Niagara region, Jackson-Triggs.

The architecture of the building is quite a site to take in... My father-in-law compared it to an airplane hanger.

And I quite agree with him on that.

However, the tour guide at the winery told us the building is supposed to resemble a a barn. Hmm...

Before the tour, The Husband and I popped in to the tasting gallery of the winery. We decided to try two flights of wines (in addition to the tasting we were going to get on the tour).

We tried a flight of red table wines.

(Pinot noir, Syrah, Cabernet-Merlot.)

And we also tried a flight of the ice wines.

(Vidal, Riesling, Cabernet Franc.)

Despite loving red wines, I did not like any of the red wines. They were way too harsh. Probably still very young. We had a hard time downing that flight. The Pinot had a very "tobacco" flavor. It wasn't good.

The ice wines, however, we loved. Especially the Vidal. It was delightful. Very light. Very honey-flavored. So good. The Riesling was also good, with a wonderful pineapple flavor.

(If you're ever looking for a fun vacation, I highly recommend going to Niagara-On-the-Lake. How fun would it be to hang out in the town, take in a few Shaw Festival shows, and then go on a bike ride tour of the dozen vineyards they have in the area?)

The Husband and I ended up picking up a bottle of Vidal ice wine from the Pellar Estates (another local winery - where we had our wedding rehearsal dinner at) to bring home with us to Boston. We have some "wine-y" friends who we want to have over for dinner soon to share it with. (Though, I must confess, I am DYING to open it now. It's so good!)