Sex And The City Movie - My Review.

Okay... It's now Saturday... And I can write up my review of the movie.

As you may know, I liked it a lot. I thought the story lines for each character were logical, and the movie synced up nicely with the television show.

And the fashion...

Oh I REALLY loved that!

Even the "fashion" of Carrie's newly redesigned apartment... Just gorgeous! Oh! And when Big shows her the closet he built for her, the whole audience (which was 97% female, two percent gay men and 1% straight men) GASPED out loud.

It was an amazing closet/dressing room.

I liked that Carrie and Big didn't get to have the big wedding. (Personally, I think big weddings are a pain.) I liked that they went through this struggle. And I LOVED that they GOT MARRIED AT THE END OF THE MOVIE TO EACH OTHER AT CITY HALL!

That's the way people should get married! Here's a note people: If you ever want to secure that the other person isn't gonna stand you up at your wedding, get married at City Hall first. Then have a big ceremony. Then they won't have any reason to stand you up at the ceremony. that's what Carrie should have done.

Charlotte has no real story line in the movie... Except to have a baby. She ends up with a little girl she names "Rose" to along with the adopted "Lily."

Miranda is a stressed out bi-atch at the beginning of the movie. She and Steve stop having sex. So he cheats on her, just once. And he feels guilty about it. But she leaves him. However, they get back together by the end. I thought this story line was really good. Miranda tells him, "I changed myself for you." And she had, and it didn't fit her completely. By the end of the movie, I think she was able to find how to be herself and be a married mommy.

Samantha... She lives in LA, helping Smith with his career. In fact, Smith is her whole life. How boring. And she knows it. By the end of the movie, she ditches him for good and moves back to NYC.

The ONLY story line I did not like was Anthony and Stanford. Now, I do like that they got together in the movie. HOWEVER... I don't recall hearing what happened to Marcus, Stanford's younger and hotter boyfriend that he had at the end of the series. Obviously, they broke up... But why? They seemed to be very good together. I would have liked to have had more details on the Stanford/Marcus situation.

Other than that... The movie was complete. Carrie's struggle to figure out what "love" is was good. It did feel like a long episode. But I liked that. It was a continuation of the story. And it was appropriate.

And again... The fashion... OMG.

Balenciaga In Vermilion.

So... I bought a new bag today.

Now, before you go on thinking that I just went and spent a ton of money on a bag... I should let you know that I went with a somewhat cheaper bag than the ones I wrote about earlier today. Additionally, I felt it was okay to splurge a little on a new bag because I had a little extra in my paycheck today than usual. (Our "cost of living" increases were in our paychecks this week at work.)

So after work this afternoon, I decided to stop by Copley. I wanted to go back to Neiman Marcus to check on the Chloe bag I saw on the sale table there last weekend. It was gorgeous... Metallic platinum in color, and it was the perfect satchel size. But it was $1295. Ouch!

I did love it... But before I was about to put down my Neiman Marcus card, I decided to go to Barney's and check out their sale table.

"Who knows?" I thought. "They might have some Balenciaga's on sale there. And I can pay with my debit card, since they take normal credit cards, unlike Neiman."

So I put the Chloe down, and trotted over to Barney's.

Once inside, I stopped briefly to check out the display of male mannequins wearing boxers and carrying umbrellas that they had at the front of the store. Then I made my way over to the bag section.

I spotted the sale table right away. And on it was a lovely black suede with white leather trim Balenciaga Giant City bag. It was very mod. And I loved it, as it was marked down a lot.

"But," I said to myself, "if I am gonna go with a Balenciaga, I really want it to be appropriate for going out too. And this black one is more work-appropriate."

So I put the bag down and headed over to the other part of the Balenciaga section. And that's where I met my passion... I learned it was called "Vermilion."

A coral-scarlett color that just POPS, Vermilion is one of the rare colors for a Balenciaga. And they had the cutest City bag in it. It took a few minutes testing it out in front of the mirrors... But I decided to spring for it.



It was less than the Chloe on sale, and even my husband knows I have been coveting a Balenciaga bag since last July. And it is smaller and completely appropriate for work or for going out.

I think it was a good use of some unexpected extra cash.

Not That I have A Spare $1300 Lying Around...

Good lord, no!

But... I was just curious...

If you were going to buy a new bag, and had $1300 to spend... Which would you get?

Balenciaga City Bag?




Or Chloe Padington?



Kindly state your preference in the comments.

Sex And The City Movie - My Opinion.

This is NOT a spoiler. So no worries.

I just wanted to write and say that I really loved the film.

That's all.

Sox Appeal.

Had a good workout with my trainer this morning. A lot of times, while working out, we chit-chat about my work or her work. Sometimes we'll talk about pop culture. A lot of times we'll talk about health stuff.

Today though, we discussed her love life.

Well, to be fair... It wasn't her "love life." It was her "dating life." And it only came up because she told me that she got cast as the "hero" for an episode of Sox Appeal.

In case you don't know... Sox Appeal is a dating show on NESN. It involves one person going on three dates during a Sox game. Each dater gets two innings with the "hero" (the person being set up). At the end of the sixth inning, one dater is chosen to spend the rest of the game with the hero. And then, if the hero still likes them and they like the hero, they go on a real date outside of the game.

My trainer was chosen as the "hero" for her episode. She gets to go on three "dates" at next Friday, June 6th's, game. I don't think she's taking the dates really seriously though. Nor should she. I would be wary of those dating shows.

Bikram Yoga Roma.

After a really challenging class last night at 5:30, I have decided that I want to attempt a Bikram class in Rome when I go there the week after next.

There's only one studio in Rome (Roma!). And their website is totally in Italian. So I had to email them and ask, "I know the poses in Sanskrit. But is there anyone around to speak English to me when I check in for the class? I don't think my Italian is good enough."

They wrote me back and said they speak English and Italian in the class. So there would be no problem.

Very excited. Frogger and I are going to do a Roman Spa day and also hit a Bikram class.

International Bikram!!!!!

Chloe Trapeze - The Missus Style

Today I am wearing the Chloe Trapeze dress I bought a few weeks back.



I really like it. It's very comfy. However, it took me a good while to figure out how the hell you put it on exactly.

See, the straps on the back of the dress go over your shoulders, like a jacket. But then there's this additional piece that comes from the back that the halter straps loop in to... And that's how the dress stays on you.

Also, I appear to have bought the dress at least one size too big. But I was really worried about it being short. So I figured I could sacrifice it fitting across the back for a few extra inches in length. And now, I can't wear the dress without a cardigan or jacket over it, otherwise it looks too big.

And I accessorized it differently than I thought I would. I threw leggings on underneath it. And a Theory belt I got for free when I bought my purple dress at Saks a few months back. I never wear belts. So this is a new thing for me. But because the dress is so big, it really helps define the shape. Also, there's the cardigan. And I am wearing a blue scarf in tribute of Rachael Ray and her Dunks ad being taken off the air. (That is so ridiculous!)

Healthy Dish For The Weak: Mahi Mahi & Peanut Soba Noodles.

I have been dying to try this dish out for a few days. It's a new one I have come up with... "Mahi Mahi & Peanut Soba Noodles."



Yummy!

The inspiration came from a recipe I found in the latest issue of Everyday Food.

Ingredients:

• 6 ounces of soba noodles
• 2 mahi mahi fillets
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 3 table spoons of soy sauce
• 1/2 table spoon safflower oil
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 palm-full of chopped peanuts
• 1 tablespoon chopped mint leaves
• 1/2 cup of cucumber slices, thin
• 1 scallion

Directions:

1. Bring pot of water to a boil, cook soba noodles for 5 minutes. Pull out and rinse under cold water. Set aside.
2. While cooking the noodles, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Throw the mahi mahi in, along with the garlic. Dribble two tablespoons of soy sauce over the fillets. Flip halfway through cooking, which is about three minutes per side.
3. Mix the safflower oil and the remaining soy sauce in a bowl. Throw in the mint, peanuts, scallions, cucumber and noodles. Toss till coated.
4. Plate the noodles and the mahi mahi. Then eat.

This is a VERY healthy meal. I don't know the exact calorie count, but it is very good for you. It's less than 500 for the meal, I know that much. And it is enough to serve one short female and one freakishly large Canadian.

Sex And The City Movie - One Review.

Lately, I seem to prefer the chirping of birds on my back deck to wake me. They like to do so at about 5am. This may sound crazy to you people who are not early-birds, but I love it. I love not having to wake up to a beeping alarm. I much prefer nature.

Anyway...

My early rising has allowed me to get through some reading that I normally wouldn't till later in the day. I was able to get through some of the NY Post, which included a review for the sex and the City movie.

And it's not good.

Lou Lumenick, from the NY Post, gives the film one and one-half stars. He says, "It runs too long."

He goes into detail the issues he has with the movie, with out spoiling anything for us. But I have to say, some of his complaints could easily be issues I also will have with the movie. I'll hold off on jumping to conclusions before I see it... And I would gladly spend money to pay and see all the fashion featured in the film. But the whole "it runs too long" bit is a common complaint among people who have seen the movie already.

SATC NYC Premiere.

Been scoping things out online for a few hours now... And I have finally come across premiere photos of the fashion for the main actors.

Sarah Jessica Parker - Nina Ricci


I like this one. Wait... No... I LOVE IT!

Kim Cattrall - Vivienne Westwood


This is very Kim. Very sexy. I like.

Cynthia Nixon - Calvin Klein


Sweet, and conservative. Not too daring. It suits her. It's lovely and sexy for her.

Kristin Davis


Not a fan of this one. Or maybe it's just the way she is standing? I don't know for sure... I think it's the dress.

Chloe Paddington Satchel.

If I had a spare $1300 lying around, I would buy this...



The Chloe Paddington Satchel.

I already have one Chloe Paddington, a hobo. It's larger. But I have always loved the satchel. And it's in a really cool metallic silver color.

Ahh... Sadly though, I do not have the major extra cash flow to get this. And I think The Husband would be upset if I did.

"It's your money, you spend how you want," he tells me. "I won't say anything."

"Yeah," I agree with him. "It is my money. But I will be able to tell what you're thinking as I walk around with it."

He doesn't believe in "designer" things. I tell him I "don't believe in Canadians or Canadian holidays."

So we're even.

Best Sex And The City Episodes Ever.

MSNBC has a piece about what they have determined are the top five episodes of Sex and the City.

I disagree with their list.

In fact, when I think about the episodes I watch most often, none of the five they listed are in the list. So, here are my top five episodes...

The Real Me - Season Four: Carrie gets asked to participate in the New York Style fashion show. She has to walk down the runway wearing panties, a really awesome blue coat, and heels. As soon as she begins to strut down the runway, she falls face-first.

A Vogue Idea - Season Four: I was really surprised this one wasn't on the list for MSNBC. I mean, "Hello!" It's the episode where Carrie learns about the Vogue wardrobe closet!!!! It's where most of us see, for the first time, the Manolo Blahnik Campari shoe. (The "Mary Janes!")

Hot Child In The City - Season Three: Carrie dates the comic book guy. She and he hang around and smoke pot in his parents' luxurious park-side apartment. Samantha has to plan a bat mitzvah for a snotty 13 year old. Miranda gets braces.

Hop, Skip and a Week - Season Six: Berger breaks up with Carrie on a Post-It note. Harry proposes to Charlotte.

American Girl In Paris (Part Deux) - Season Six: The series finale! Carrie and Big (aka John) end up together. The fashion is amazing. She returns to NYC. Charlotte finally gets a baby. Samantha finds love. Miranda surrenders to the idea of "family" and all the hassle it can bring.

Stephanie's Taking Over Garden Of Eden Space?

Ugh...

I don't think I like the sound of this rumor! I hope it's not true. I've only eaten at Stephanie's once in the five years that I have lived in Boston. And that was recently... Like two months ago. The scene there on a Friday night was not much fun. And the food was very mediocre.

Very mediocre... And I was drunk when I ate it. So if I thought it was just "okay" when I was drunk (which is when one will usually eat anything), I would probably find it to be complete crap when I was sober.

Who knows though... This (potential) Stephanie's on Tremont Street could be different. It could be good. And I should really give it more than just the one chance before I dismiss it completely. I mean, I did give Gaslight a second chance for dinner.

Sex And The City NYC Premiere Tonight!

Oh, how I wish I was one of the lucky ones going to the NYC premiere of the Sex and the City movie. Alas, I am not. I have pre-bought my ticket for a THURSDAY showing this week with girl friends though.

Though I am not going to the NYC premiere, I am still looking forward to it. Why?

Because of the fashion of course!!!!

Please, if the SATC crew wore this to the London premiere...



And this to the Berlin premiere...



... they are going to kick it "up to 11" for the NYC premiere. The fashion has to be even more exciting and crazy. I can't wait to log on tonight and catch the outfits via streaming video.

Healthy Dish For The Weak: Quinoa Rockstar Salad.

Have you ever had quinoa?

Probably not. But it is gaining in popularity lately, so it's possible. I have only had it a few times. It's extremely good for you, and that is likely why I have been hesitant to jump in and commit to adding it to my regular rotation of foods. It's a super food. And when mixed with awesome ingredients, it totally rocks. It's a rockstar food!

Quinoa is a grain that is packed with protein and an excellent source of iron, magnesium and fiber. It's one food we should all be eating more often. And it's so easy to make and mix with other ingredients. It's a great substitute for rice, and is gluten-free. This afternoon, I made myself a recipe I invented called "Quino Rockstar Salad."



Ingredients:

• 1 cup of quinoa
• 2 cups of vegetable (or chicken) stock
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup of frozen corn (I had it leftover in the freezer; fresh corn would have been preferred.)
• 1 yellow summer squash, chopped into 1/2 chunks
• 1/2 a small red onion, chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons of chopped parsley (Though cilantro would have been tasty too.)
• 2 chicken breasts (5 ounces each)
• 2 tablespoons of soy sauce

Directions:

1. Dump the quinoa and the stock in a sauce pan. bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer. Cover the pot and cook for about 15 minutes, till all the stock is absorbed.
2. Meanwhile, grill the chicken breasts with the soy sauce dribbled on top. Once cooked through (about 8-10 minutes), set aside and let them cool. After a few minutes of cooling, you can chop them up into small chunks.
3. Next, saute the squash in the olive oil over medium-high heat for about 6 minutes. Toss in the red onion till they become very soft. then throw in the corn and the garlic. Cook for another two minutes.
4. Once everything is finished cooking, throw all the ingredients, including the parsley, into a bowl and toss.
5. Then you eat it.

Though, the recipe does make enough to feed like four or five people. I made enough for me to take to work this week. It's delicious. And so incredibly healthy.

Sage Restaurant.

Tuesday will mark the fourth year that The Husband and I have been married.

Yep... Four years... It sounds a lot longer than it has actually been.

Anyway, to celebrate the Thursday afternoon we walked across the street from our downtown apartment and got married in Boston's City Hall, we decided to try a new-ish South End restaurant for dinner - Sage.



Sage is an Italian restaurant. But it's not like what you would see in the North End. It's quieter. Chicer. And the food is awesome. Normally, I don't expect much from Italian restaurants. As long the wine is good, I am happy with it. But Sage was all around great.

I started by ordering a glass of Pinot. It was yummy. (And it's good for the heart!) Then, to start my meal, I ordered the mushroom and mozzarella tart. The Husband went with a half order of the pea ravioli. Both were excellent. And I have to give high praise for the ravioli... As The Husband usually hates peas. But it being Springtime and all, I told him he should go for it. And he liked it a lot.

The for the main course I went with the roast chicken, lentils and prune reduction. It may sound kind of "ick"... But it was very good. I had never had lentils before this. And they were so tasty, as was the prune sauce. The Husband went with full order of gnocchi with pesto sauce. The gnocchi was the best he had ever had.

We decided to tuck in for dessert, even though we were both quite full. We shared an order of the chocolate hazelnut timbale. It was rich and crunchy and went very well with my espresso.

As The Husband said, "I give it an 'A.'"

Seriously, Sage was an awesome pick for dinner... And it cost us less than $100. Oh, and the portions weren't out of control and obscenely large like at most Italian places. They were a reasonable size.

Current Craving: Skull & Bone Cameo Ring.

Wow!

Normally, when I think of someone with the style that would permit them to pull off wearing a cameo, I think of someone super sophisticated.

A real lady.

A fine dame.

She probably wear stockings every day.

And pencil skirts and heels.

Someone with a throw-back taste to the earlier part of the last century.

But perhaps not, if they're wearing this...



It's the Amedeo by M+M Scognamiglio Skull & Bone Cameo Ring. Isn't it awesome?

You don't have to be a prissy girl to wear this bad boy. I am salivating!

Instant & Easy Chic?

Glancing at the cover of June's Harper's Bazaar magazine it announces that there contains information inside (between the gazillion ads) on "Chic Easy Pieces."



... But when venture inside the pages, and navigate to the section that this headline refers to, you see that becoming "chic" isn't as "easy" as had been promised.

The "easy chic" things they suggest you try?

• Opera-length gloves. Seriously? In summertime? WTF is this suggestion doing in the June issue?
• Metallic embroidery. Um.. I love metallics, but just because something has metallic embroidery does not make it "chic."
• Belted outerwear. Again, we are entering Summer. I'm not gonna wear a wool cape-ish coat with a belt.
• Leopard clutch. Okay, this one I can agree with, as animal prints do bring a chicness to style.

Perhaps these are merely suggestions they are providing in advance of the Fall season... Which is at least four months away. But still... Can we please try to stay seasonal? If you want to talk about Fall, can't it wait till Spring is officially over?

Does Anyone Else Not Find THis "Ennio" Shit Funny?

Yeah...

So... No offense if you paid to see it... But I don't understand why anyone would go see that Ennio thing. I keep seeing freaking display ads for this thing all over the Internet.



Am I the only one who doesn't understand why someone should pay to see shit that you could probably see for free over in front of Quincy Market?

Latissimus Dorsi Muscle Pain.

I woke up in some pain this morning. But a good kind of pain...

My trainer yesterday had me focusing on my back muscles. I seem to have a hard time targeting these muscles. I tend to hunch my shoulders and use the neck and arms to do all the work. But yesterday, The Trainer made me do a few different exercises that I could feel working right away.

But after I left the gym, in a sweaty mess, I forgot all about the work out... Till I awoke this morning.

Right now, my Latissimus Dorsi muscles, on both sides, are in some aching pain. I am in desperate need of a salt bath after yoga tonight, to work the pain in those muscles out.

Perhaps at lunch today, I will go out and pick up a bottle of nice bath salts to take the pain away.

Packing For Rome - Thoughts.

Since I am flying direct to Rome in exactly two weeks, I have decided that it is ideal to check a bag. There should be little fear of the bag getting lost, since there are no connecting flights. Plus, Frogger and I are flying Delta (actually, Alitalia, which is partnered with Delta), and they aren't charging customers to check a bag. So no worries there.

But where I am worried is with what to pack.

The first time I went to Rome (almost four years ago) I was with The Husband. Because I was with him, I didn't feel the need to dress up much. It was all jeans and comfy sweaters to tour around the city. However, it is nearly Summer, and I am going with a girl friend. So I am much more apt to dress nicer this time. Roman culture is more stylized than American culture. And, people actually dress up there. So I can't just throw on a tank top, jeans, hoodie and flip flops. I actually have to dress up a little. Or at least dress a little nicer.

So far, this is my clothing packing list:

• Jeans - 3 pairs
• Tory Burch Silver Snakeskin Flats
• Red Jimmy Choo Flats
• See by Chloe Trapeze Dress
• Velvet Red Tie-Dyed Top

Yes, this is it. I need to look at my agenda though, and configure outfits based on what we'll be doing each day. This is going to take some strategy...

Reprioritzing.

In case you haven't realized, I have been really busy the past few months. Well, busier than I had been in the past year. The busy-ness has been from work. But now that I have a super new team member that joined me last week, things are becoming more manageable. So now I can focus on me again, and begin reprioritizing things.

So here are my priorities for the next few Summer months:

1. Plant a deck garden. By the time I move to Toronto, I will have lived in the same apartment for four years. The apartment has this fantastic deck off the back, and we rarely use it. It's criminal! So this weekend, I am using our landlord's planters, and actually planting a deck garden. I've never done any outdoor planting before... So this should be interesting.
2. Yoga - four days a week! I am going to start going to be alternating Bikram and physical training at Equinox during the week. I will likely be giving up Pilates on Friday mornings (I have come to realize that I don't get as much out of it as I do the Bikram and the training).
3. July - Bikram Yoga Challenge Month! It is time to do another challenge. Haven't done one this year yet. And that is just shameful.
4. Near vegetarianism... When I get back from Rome, I am cutting out all cow dairy, red meat and wheat. Apparently, my body does not digest these and some types of vegetables very well. I can have chicken and some types of fish though. And believe it or not... I can eat white flour. And I am just going to try this for a few weeks... Through the end of my yoga challenge... To see how I feel. Hopefully, I will have more energy.
5. More writing. I have been neglecting all my writing lately. Not just this blog... But all other areas of my writing. Time to commit to spending 10 hours a week to my writing.
   

So far, that's it. I will likely add to the list as I go throughout the Summer.

Expanding Uranus?

Oh how I love the spam that comes into my inbox...




How delightful indeed! An expansion of an anus!

Does "Cheap" Travel Even Exist Anymore?

The Husband and I are taking a lot of trips this year.

First, there was the trip to Cabo in April. Then there is my trip to Rome in a few weeks. Then there is the likelihood that I will take a trip to NYC some time this summer. And of course we have to do Canadian Thanksgiving in Canada with his parents. And American Thanksgiving will be with my family in Arizona. Christmas will be in San Francisco, a stop-over before we head to Melbourne Christmas afternoon. Oh, and The Husband went to Florida back in March to hang out with his parents at their time-share.

So, the airlines are making a lot of money off the two of us... Not counting the business traveling we have each done this year.

In fact, the airlines will have made about $15,700 off of us this year.

I really feel we should be entitled to the following, as a result of helping out the airline industry during a shit year:

• Free peanuts
• Exit row seating on any flight we have
• Free alcohol on any international flights (I only drink red wine... So it's fairly cheap for them. And The Husband doesn't drink at all.)
• Better movies (Seriously, the last three international flights I took both showed National Treasure: Book of Secrets." It was very painful.)
• No delays on the tarmac (Sitting for 45 minutes on the tarmac in Dallas right before Christmas, for no reason, totally blew.)
• No more pulling The Husband aside and doing extra security screenings on him (I swear, you call a check-in attendant a "bitch" once, and they hold it against you for life! And it was me that called them a "bitch," not The Husband.)

So, I have decided that with all the recent hub-bub going on in the airline industry, I will now only fly certain airlines. I used to be pretty open about flying any airline. I am a good traveler. All I need is my seat and a person sitting next to me who doesn't invade my space too much. I don't need any high maintenance attention. I don't even need an arm rest.

Which airlines are the only ones I'll fly? I won't say. I don't want to bias anyone else. But if I'm going to end up paying for every little thing for my flight, it's going to be an expensive trip no matter what. So I will now be doing the following moving forward:

• Search for cheap airline tickets across a broad range of vendors to find the best prices for the airlines I like
• Fly business and first class as often as possible (If the upgrade fee is less than $300, I'll do it)
• Register for one of those credit cards that gives you free miles AND sign up for the airline rewards programs specific to my chosen airlines

Hey! I've Stolen Wireless From This Guy!

... Actually, that was like three years ago, and only after I first moved in to my current apartment and didn't have my own wireless hooked up at the time...

But I was just on Boston.com looking at the Homes section and noticed a neighbor's condo was featured. I never knew it was like that on the inside. He's done a fantastic job with the small space. I'm incredibly jealous.

I love the hidden dishwasher... And the kitchen space with the sliding doors is a great idea.

Who knew we had such a unique gem right next door?

Herb Chicken With Lemon Spaghetti Recipe.

A few people wrote in requesting the Lemon Spaghetti recipe I made earlier this week. Here you go:

Pasta Ingredients:

• Spaghetti (enough for 2 people)
• Ricotta Cheese (1/2 a cup)
• Chives (1 tablespoon, chopped)
• Lemon (juice and zest from half of it)
• Parmesan Cheese (grated)
• Butter (1 tablespoon)

Herb chicken Ingredients:

• Chicken breasts (3/4 of a pound, boneless)
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil (1 tablespoon)
• Herbes de Provence (1 tablespoon)

Directions:
Boil a pot of water and cook the spaghetti. Throw all the other pasta ingredients into a bowl. Meanwhile dump the olive oil into a saute pan over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the herbs over the chicken, and also season with salt and pepper. Cook the chicken for 12 minutes, flipping over halfway through. Let chicken sit for about five minutes, then cut up into bite-sized chunks.

Once pasta is done cooking, throw into the bowl of remaining ingredients and toss. Throw in chicken chunks and toss some more.

Then you're done, and can shove it into your mouth.

Healthy Dish For The Weak: Sesame Chicken With Wilted Spinach.

Sounds pretty basic... And it kinda is... But it was very good.



Tonight I made a new recipe, which was inspired by various cooking shows I have seen on using sesame seeds.

I never use sesame seeds, but have had a small bottle of them hanging out in my pantry for a few months now. How I came to acquire these sesame seeds, I do not recall. But I decided to finally suck it up and use them tonight.

Ingredients:

• Boneless chicken thighs
• Sesame seeds
• Garlic cloves
• Cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil
• Spinach leaves (one package, fresh)
• Nutmeg
• Yellow onion
• Carrots
• Soy sauce

It did take some time to get this recipe to come together... About 45 minutes in total. So it's not really quick.

Instructions:
You rub a crushed garlic cube over the chicken. Throw in a pan and dash a few drops of soy sauce over each piece of chicken. Sprinkle a handful of sesame seeds. Shove the pan in a 375 degree for about 40 minutes.

Cut up three carrots into quarter inch chunks, and chop up an onion. Saute the carrots in a tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Once soft (about 10 minutes), throw in the onion. Once translucent-y, toss in a clove of minced garlic. After a minute, throw the spinach leaves in and wilt down. Once wilted down, grate fresh nutmeg over the top and sprinkle some salt on top.

Then you're done! And it's a super healthy dish. If you don't do meat, you can always substitute tofu in for the chicken... And it will probably cook a lot quicker.

Nina Garcia: Editor-At-Large...

Just got a media notice in my inbox... Looks like Nina Garcia will be staying at Elle through the beginning of September...



I know it's kind of hard to read the small print... But the gist is that Nina Garcia, who we all know form her Project Runway fame, will be "staying" at Elle magazine through September 1st as an "editor-at-large."

This should be sufficient time for them to film most of the next season of Project Runway. Then she will be high-tailing it to Marie Claire. (Which, to be honest, could severely use her help.)

...So I guess she's stuck at Elle till after Labor Day.

Vegan Ice Cream.

Sounds gross... I know... But it is so delicious.

So Delicious!



If you haven't tried this, go out an buy a pint. I picked one up on my way home from work. You can never go wrong with Mocha Fudge... Even if it is soy, it's yum!

Healthy Dish For The Weak: Type A Tacos.

Crazy day at work.

Well, it wasn't crazy till the very end of the day... When I was the last one to leave. (Though don't feel too bad for me... I left at 6:15pm.)

By the time I got home, I had energy to burn and a desire for something healthy. So I decided to make "Type A Tacos."



I call them "Type A..." because they are wheat-free, cow dairy-free, and packed with ideal vegetables and plant proteins.

Ingredients:

• Cod
• Zucchini
• Black Beans
• Goat Cheddar
• Avocado
• Lime
• No tortillas (Though, if you must have them, go with flour tortillas.)

It's pretty easy to figure out how to put them all together. So it's a quick dish to get together, and it's very healthy.

Oh...

And it tasted awesome!

Lemon Spaghetti With Chicken.

I wanted to make another "Healthy Dish For The Weak"... But I was craving pasta with a little bit of cheese tonight.

So what I made instead was Lemon Spaghetti (with ricotta and lemon juice) and some grilled chicken seasoned with Herbes de Provence. Along with it, I served a mixed greens salad with a homemade dressing of lemon, cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil and mustard.

I think it turned out pretty good...



It may not look like much, but it was tasty. And aside from the small pat of butter and the 1/4 cup of ricotta I put on the pasta, it was very healthy.

Cooking time: 25 minutes.

I Have Stopped Using Boston Organics.

I had to... I just couldn't justify receiving the deliveries anymore.

In case you are behind, Boston Organics is a produce delivery service I signed up for a few weeks back. Every Tuesday afternoon, for $27, I would get a box of fruit and vegetables delivered to me at work. (It was the most convenient place for the delivery.)

I started off receiving a fruit and veggie box... And I quickly changed it to just a fruit delivery box. But even that became too much.

See... The problem was: 1. the quality and 2. the quantity.

Don't get me wrong... The quality of the produce was pretty good. Though, I did find many of my apples to be incredibly bruised. And I won't eat a bruised apple. But the bananas were delicious, as were the mangoes. But both mangoes and bananas have thick skin... And you don't necessarily eat organic ones.

Also, the fruit was really, really ripe. Often, too ripe. It would start to smell like the fruit was turning bad within a few days of receiving the order. And once it started to smell, I couldn't eat it.

So the Boston Organics had to go. If all you eat are fruits and veggies, it's probably a GREAT solution for you. It was a very convenient service to start and stop. But if you're like me, and are very picky about what your fruit looks like, then don't do it. It's not worth it.

South End: "It's Good!"

I read about the t-shirt contest for South End public school children this afternoon. I went to the website and voted for my favorite design...

There were lots of colorful ones with pictures of big buildings and people walking in the streets. But the one I ultimately chose to vote for was the coffee-cup design...



...Though, I believe there is supposed to be an apostrophe between the "T" and the "S" in "ITS."

I Am An Ordained Minister.

Seriously people...

I just took 20 seconds out of my Sunday morning (and it is a beautiful Sunday morning here in Boston) to enter my name into an online form and register myself as a minister of the Universal Life Church.



Does anybody need to me to marry them? Does anyone need spiritual guidance?

"Bringing Home Birkin" Book Review.

I will confess this to you right now...

"I have no desire to ever own an Hermes Birkin bag."

In fact, if someone ever tried to give me a Birkin bag, I would probably decline it. Birkins and The Missus just don't mix. Why?

"They're not practical!"

Seriously, I find the Birkin to be one of the most impractical bags. They're too large. They can only be carried in your hand or over your fore-arm (so, no slinging it over your shoulder). Sure, you can carry lots of stuff in it, but it is just too awkward to carry.

(However, if anyone ever wanted to get me a Kelly bag or a Ulysses notebook, I would happily accept those.)

But, even though I never care to own one, I certainly can appreciate other people's cravings for them. And if someone wanted one badly enough, and they had the cash, I would encourage them to buy one... I mean, if you're gonna actually use it, I think it's totally worth it.

And it's this "Birkin compassion" I have that led me to pick up the book, Bringing Home Birkin: My Life in Hot Pursuit of the World's Most Coveted Handbag."



Written by Michael Tonello, a Massachusetts Native, the book provides a look into the world of professional Birkin-purchasing. Tonello would buy Birkins in Europe, Asia and South America... And then turn around and sell them either on eBay or to private clients. He provides plenty of detailed Hermes product knowledge in the book... And, Tonello even bunks the "two-year waiting list" theory and explains how he was able to buy hundreds of Birkin bags each year, without ever having to be put on any wait list.

It was an exciting book to read, and it was all the more delightful knowing that the story was based on fact. It was all about some one's real experiences making a career from buying Birkins.

I'd like to make a career out of drinking coffee all day. Wait, make that "drinking coffee and going shopping" all day.

That would be fun.

Twenty-One Days Till Roma.

Wow... I feel like the Rome trip should be farther away than it is... But it is fast approaching!

In 21 days, I leave for Rome. Hooray!

So far, the only things Frogger and I have booked are the flights, hotel rooms and a tour of the Vatican (which is like six hours long!). We still need to figure out which sites we want to explore on which days... And we also need to work in cafe/writing time... Oh, and of course shopping time... Oh! And restaurants!

So, if any of you have any recommendations for restaurants we should try in Rome, please feel free to leave them in the comments section below.

The last time I went to Rome, three and a half years ago, I lived on espresso, pizza, wine and pasta while there. It was all so delicious. I don't recall if I ever tried any gelato while there... But it was late fall, so it wouldn't have really been the right time. This trip, though, I will be sure to try some.

Pineapple Symbolism.

Pineapples keep appearing in my life. They always have.

... I open my organic fruit delivery box, the first thing I see is a pineapple.
... The top I fall in love with for Summer has pineapples all over it.
... I go to London, stop in a candle shop... The one candle I like the best is the one that smells like pineapples.
... Inspired by an episode of Sex and the City, I decide to serve Flirtinis as my "signature cocktail" at my wedding.
... When I worked in a townhouse for the Evil Empire, back in NYC, one of the carvings in the staircase banister was of a pineapple.

There's a lot more... But these are just a few examples of how pineapples keep popping up in my life. So I decided to look up the symbolism of the pineapple. Here are a few of the meanings:

• Represents "self-confidence, ambition and success."
• In decorations, it is a symbol for "welcome."
• Also is a symbol for "friendship."

I think I am getting a sign that I need to eat a lot more pineapple.

Tory & Chloe.

I did it people!

I got paid today, and decided to go ahead and get the two items I have been craving from Net-A-Porter...



The Tory Burch Pineapple Tunic and the See By Chloe Trapeze Dress.

Hopefully these will be here by tomorrow. But maybe not till Monday.

Woohoo! My Summer clothes shopping is nearly done!

Garden Of Eden Closed?

Thanks to a commenter on a previous post... They sent me the information that the Garden of Eden is now closed.

No really surprised, given my recent experience there. But, what does this say about the rest of the restaurant district? How are things going for them?

When I have my evening glass of wine, I will say a toast to the GoE.

Back To Bikram.

Shame on me...

It's been over eight weeks since I was last at Bikram.

Work has been busy, I have been traveling, and I have been tired.

Okay, so now that I got my excuses out of the way, I can now tell you that I went to a 6am Bikram class this morning. And man, was it TOUGH!

I seem to have lost all ability to get my chin tucked into my chest, thus stretching my upper back and neck.

Based on my experience this morning, I have decided that if I don't go to yoga in the mornings, before work, that I will not likely get to yoga at all during the week.

So Mondays and Wednesdays, at 6am, I plan to be in Bikram.

And coincidentally enough, here is my horoscope for today:

ARIES (March 21-April 19): A challenge will lead to your victory. The more physical you are today, the better. By stimulating your body, mind and soul, it will be easier to strive for advancement in other areas of your life.

Carrie & John James Preston.

Are you excited for the Sex And The City movie, people?

If not, hopefully this photo will help get you jazzed for it...



It was taken by Annie L., for the June issue of Vogue.

I LOVE it! It's so "New York!"

Normally, I loathe anything Louis Vuitton (because I am not sophisticated enough to carry it), but I find this luggage to be fabulous! I mean, it's so not practical, as it has no wheels on the cases... But it is just so timeless and classy.

And then there's Carrie's outfit... So chic.

I would love to have a reason to dress like this when I travel. But let's face it... Flying more than two hours really requires comfy clothes for the plane.

Healthy Dish For The Weak: Thai Chicken And Noodle Salad.

I've been on a serious mission to do some cooking lately. I have my tried and true recipes that I stick to often... But the truly healthy dishes are few and far between.

Health recipes just don't taste right to me. I am "weak" and need something that inspires me to eat it. This is exactly the type of recipe I made this evening...

Thai Chicken And Noodle Salad.



Yummy!

It was very easy to make, and took only about 15 minutes, not including marinading time for the chicken.

Nutrition Info (Per Serving):

• 370 calories
• 6 grams of fat (1.1 saturated)
• 38 grams of protein
• 40.8 grams of carbs
• 2.3 grams of fiber

Are Shitty Hats In?

So you all know, or should know, that I am way pumped for the Sex and the City movie coming out in a few weeks.

I have the DVDs for every SATC season, and will have to go and buy them all again as I have worn them out now. So I am very excited and looking forward to the next few weeks. The story lines will be an emotional roller coaster... The fashion will be inspiring...

And that's where this post takes us... The fashion.

At this very moment, the premiere of the SATC movie is going on in London. And look what Sarah Jessica Parker has chosen to wear for this event...



I didn't realize shitty hats were in now. What milliner did this catastrophe for her? And why?

Sometimes, people, hats are no fun and fashionable. They are scary. Very, truly scary.

I hope she makes a better choice for the NYC premiere of the movie in a few weeks!

Boston Sports Club Sucks.

Just talking to a friend of mine... And after talking to her, I am so glad I ditched Boston Sports Club last year for the greener pastures of Equinox.

My friend just tried to change her "home gym" location for BSC from Government Center to the Downtown Crossing location. The BSC person on the phone told her that it would cost her $39.99 to change her home.

Almost $40 just to relocate??? It's a simple click of a mouse in their system, and they want to charge a processing fee of $40???

That is crap!

As my friend said, "...It's almost so stupid it's funny... And because I absolutely REFUSE to give them any more cash, I am not changing gyms. I am riding out this ridiculous contract... And then going elsewhere."

Take note people: Beware of the shit-tastic Boston Sports Club gyms. If you're gonna pay loads of cash to a gym, at least have it be a nice, clean gym. And one where they aren't going to make you deal with this type of BS.

Flying to Melbourne.

So yeah... I have written before about how I am spending next New Year's in Australia. My brother-in-law is marrying a nice Australian girl there. Currently, they live in Toronto... He a corporate lawyer with an emphasis on aboriginal law, and she a playwright.

In a few years, they will be moving to Melbourne to live out the rest of their lives in a house her parents have bought for them. Though, to be honest, she may not live to see her wedding day... As I am about ready to do some major violence.

(Kidding, of course. I've never even met the girl.)

Anyhoo... They are getting married next January 2nd at a winery just outside of Melbourne. Which is lovely and all... But do you people know what a bitch it is to get that part of the freaking world????

Add on top of that the fact that I have go and visit my mother-in-law in that part of the country???

Anyhoo... the most unpleasant thing about the trip will (hopefully) be the flight there and back. Now, I am a great flier. Other than sometimes having to pee a lot, I pretty much just sit there and sleep or watch movies. I don't complain. I don't invade people's space. I don't eat smelly food or wear heavy perfume while in flight. I shower before getting on the plane.

But The Husband?

He is a shit-tastic traveler. I can kinda understand it though. He's nearly 6'5" tall. The 33 inches of seat pitch you get in economy class really bites for him. And he can't sleep on planes. And if a child decides to cry through part of the flight... OHMIGOD... He gets antsy. (And he's the one who wants children!)

So, I was online tonight, attempting to do some research on ticket prices to next holiday season... And I learned that we would be losing a whole two days by flying there. I knew we would lose one... But I wasn't aware that we were losing two!

Check it out...



See? We could fly out on the 25th (in the morning) and we wouldn't arrive till the morning of the 27th in Melbourne.

WTF?

Me no likey.

I could kill the future sister-in-law for insisting we go there for the wedding. (I won't ever be going back after the wedding.)

Though, I shouldn't be too hard on the girl... Last December she left Toronto on the day before her birthday, only to arrive in Melbourne the day AFTER her birthday. So she missed it completely.

Heh-heh.

Jenna Bush's Wedding Dress.

You know... When I heard about all the hoopla around Jenna Bush's wedding, I was actually excited for her. She was living my dream of having a low-key wedding. (Which I kinda didn't get to have because The Husband wanted a fancier one.*)

I loved that she was planning on having a wedding outside, at her parents' home. It sounded cool and stress-free... With all the Texas wildflowers and the limestone cross her father had commissioned for the event. And I got even more excited when I heard Oscar de la Renta was doing her gown. I imagined we would see something simple and classy on Jenna.

I was wrong though. What we saw was crap.



With all due respect Mr. de la Renta... Jenna Bush looks like she's wearing a white dress made out of a terry cloth towel that was stuck in the dryer and now has all the little gobs of stubbly nobs on it.

She looks like she is wearing a towel. (Though her dad, the Prez, does look good in his suit.) The cut of the dress is fantastic... The material just doesn't work for her.

Kudos to her on going with out the veil though. I think veils make most brides look ridiculous. But that's just my opinion.

Overall, the rest of the wedding party (both parents, the groom and her sister) all looked fantastic in their wedding attire. It's just Jenna that didn't live up to the visual part of the bride.

*I made The Husband pay for the entire wedding, which included buying me a very EXPENSIVE designer wedding gown. Hee-hee!

The "T" Is For "Terrific!"

I went back to Neiman Marcus this afternoon. I had such good luck finding the cute Velvet top yesterday that I figured I might have some luck finding the peep-toe Louboutins I wanted.

Now, if you've never been to shoe department at Neiman in the Copley Mall, let me tell you... "You're not missing much."

Don't get me wrong, the sales associates there are very good. But the selection of shoes is small. The shoe departments at Barney's and Saks are much more diverse. However, the particular Louboutins that I wanted were only available at Neiman Marcus online. I was hoping that they would have them in the store too.

No such luck though...

However, while I was checking out the shoe selection, I saw another pair that caught my eye...

The Satin Snake Reva flats from Tory Burch in silver.



The Louboutins were double what the TB shoes cost... So I saved a LOT of money by deciding to go with them. Plus, Louboutins can take a few wears before they are comfortable on your feet.

The TB Revas? They feel great the first time on your feet!

Plus, I really had my heart set on silver shoes. And the Louboutins were a champagne-platinum color. I love the silver texture of the TB shoes much better.

Hampton Jitney?

Odd sight here in Boston today...

While walking down Boylston Street this afternoon, I spotted the Hampton Jitney bus.



Not sure what it was doing all the way up here in Boston. But I hadn't seen one of these buses since I lived in NYC five years ago.

I know Boston is the "New Hollywood" lately... Are we the "New Hamptons" as well?

The Higher The SPF, The Better.

I haven't been truly tan since the age of seven, when I lived in Tampa.

I'm not a fan of Florida. No offense to the state, but I think it's a shit place. It's hot and sticky. The water smells bad. And the bugs (specifically, the roaches) were HUGE.

My family and I would spend weekends at the beach nearby. I had a Strawberry Shortcake bathing suit that I loved. And I would hang out on the beach, building sand castles with my younger brother, J. Because of these beach weekends, this was the only time in my life where I actually looked "Mexican."

After my family left Florida, we had a short stop in Arizona before moving to West Germany. (Which is a country that no longer exists.) Once in Germany, my tan faded away. We spent our weekends playing outside and walking in Volksmarches under overcast skies.

As I grew into my teenage years and moved back to Arizona, I continued to hold on to my alabaster skin tone by default. We had a Nintendo Entertainment System, and I was determined to master Goonies 2 and Contra (with the code to gain you the extra guys) during the weekends and Summertime.

By the time I started high school, my dark hair and pale skin combination gained me lots of compliments... "You look like Shannon Doherty." "You look like Winona Ryder."... I was flattered and decided that keeping my pale skin was the thing to do. It was what made me different from everyone else in Arizona. But when I started university, my reason for holding onto my pale skin shifted...

I went to school at the University of Arizona. U of A is a school that attracts MANY out-of-state students. It's cheap to go to school there, and they have some really excellent programs. And it was at the U of A that I became familiar with the term, "Fake-bake."

As I moved into my dorm the first day I arrived, I met so many girls from New York, New Jersey and Ohio... I had never been to any of these places, but all the girls had one thing in common... Orange skin. Orange skin for which they were very proud. And they found me to be quite an oddity...

"Cute top," one girl said to me. Her skin a little oily in her T-zone, and dry on her cheeks. "Where are you from?"

"I'm from Arizona," I told her.

"Ohmigod!" she shrieked. "Are you? But you're so pale!!!! How can you grow up here and not be tan? It's one of the reasons I decided to go to school here... So I wouldn't have to 'fake-bake' at the salon."

"Yeah," I agreed with her. "I am pale. I'm not really a fan of what the Sun can do to one's skin."

"You mean give it a natural glow?" she asked.

"No, skin cancer," I told her, trying to noble.

She just kind of laughed it off. But I remember staring at her, in her tight baby doll dress with her chunky tanned thighs peeking out below the hem... And I remember thinking that she looked a lot older than the 18 years she was. And I realized it was the tan that had aged her.

So right then I decided that I would wear sunscreen as much as possible. At least on my face.

After a few weeks, I noticed that my feet were really dirty when I took my sandals off my feet. I hopped into the shower and scrubbed. But the dirt wasn't coming off of them. And it hit me...

"My legs are tanned!!!!!"

From that moment on, I began wearing sunscreen on legs whenever I wore shorts or a dress.

By the time I left Arizona for NYC, about four years later, I was paler than when I started college.

Most days now, I only wear an SPF 30 on my face. It's done a pretty good job of keeping any wrinkles away. But I also slather thick moisturizer on my face before I go to sleep at night. And when I go on beach vacations, I pile on the high intensity SPF... Usually it's always been 55 or 70... But more recently I have upgraded to 85, since it is available.

... Which brings me to the purpose of this posting...

There seems to be a lot of false impressions about high-intensity SPF lotions. The false impression being: Anything over SPF 30 is really "just extra moisturizer" and not helping you any, as Nadine Haobsh, a beauty writer, wrote in her book last fall.

However, this is not entirely correct people.

The bottom line on SPF is that if you take the time to apply (and reapply) it correctly, you will get the maximum amount of protection from it. When you apply SPF 30, you are getting 30 times the sun protection that you would if you weren't wearing any sunblock.

So when I wear SPF 85, I am getting 85 times the amount of protection. And when I reapply it after a few hours, it will continue to protect me to this degree... Or at least way more than SPF 30 would.

So don't be fooled by anyone who chastises you for busting out the SPF 85 on your next vacation (like my husband chastised me)... If they feel comfortable with just 30 on, good for them. I feel confident that my avoidance of the sun will keep me looking young even when I am into my 60s and 70s. And I won't have "crepey" looking skin.

I mean, I still get carded people. Even in foreign countries. Even when at dinner with The Husband.

It's gotta be the sunblock.

California BLT With Potatoes.

I have eaten out a lot this week and the week prior. So much so that I could not handle eating out this weekend.

"Where do you want to go out to dinner tonight?" asked The Husband, thinking of our standing Saturday night date... Where we hang out somewhere in the South End for an hour or two, noshing.

"I don't want to go out," he was informed. "I feel like cooking."

However, I didn't want to go all out and do a serious meal. I wanted to keep it fairly simple, and I wanted to use some of the produce I had sitting in my kitchen, about to rot: avocado, tomatoes, potatoes and lettuce.

I decided the easiest things for me to make were California BLT sandwiches and potatoes with spices.



The avocado was so ripe (after having sat around all week) that it was very easy to spread on the toast. The tomatoes were really tasty, after lying on the counter top for a few days. The whole meal took about 20 minutes to come together. The thing that took the longest was getting the potatoes to boil.

So it's a quick and basic meal, good for any night.

"This is really good," said The Husband.

Why did he sound so surprised? He knows I can cook.

Velvet Top.

I found another top to add to my Summer-season shopping list...

A silk tie-dyed red top by Velvet.



I spent part of my morning out browsing and came across this top. It's loose and sexy, which makes it perfect for Summer.

So one item purchased... Only five more to go.

Summer Fashion.

I am having a tough time shopping.

Crazy, I know. Normally I am quite good with shopping.

See, my problem is that I am in a depressed mood with fashion right now. I am transitioning from loving lots of trends, and trying to focus more on developing my personal style. I mean, I'm in my 30s now... It's time to stop liking everything, and start focusing on what works for my body type as well as what I love.

Every season, I set a budget for myself. I am not supposed to spend beyond this budget, and it's supposed to cover everything... From accessories, to clothes, to shoes. Here is what I've found so far:

Tory Burch Pineapple Tunic




Christian Louboutin Metallic Flats



Chloe Black Peep-Toe Flats



Chloe Trapeze Tank Dress (Yes, I still love this.)



Foley + Corinna City Clutch In Black



Marc By Marc Jacobs Dot Dobby Blouse



I still need a few more tops or dresses... And I haven't found anything I like yet. But there's a few more weeks left before I plan on buying anything anyway.

The South End Has Lots Of Perverts.

I was a little sick yesterday. And by the end of the day, I really needed my sleep. I fell into bed and crashed as soon as LOST was over. (Wicked great episode!)

I woke up this morning and decided to head to work a little earlier than usual. As I stood in front of my building, waiting for the bus, a gentleman came walking towards me. He looked a little dazed and was wearing a red sweat suit. His hands were in his front pockets, and I didn't think anything of him coming towards my direction... Figured he was probably going to be waiting for the bus as well.

Once he got closer to me, he said to me, "Good morning!"

I said, "Good morning" back to him.

"You have nice hair," he said.

I thought for a moment I was going to have a "Lennie" moment and he was gonna start petting my head really hard till I was knocked on conscious. But as he walked even closer, I realized that would have been the least of my worries.

His hands weren't inside his pockets, they were down his front pants. Really deep in his pants. I don't have to take a guess as to what he was holding on to in his pants, as he was walking... But I knew the cordial morning greeting was all I would be able to say to him without laughing and shrieking, "What the fuck is wrong with you, you pervert! There are children at this bus stop too!"

But I didn't say anything to him, because he kept walking and didn't stop to wait for the bus.

He continued walking down Tremont Street, as far as the eye could see, with his hands still down his pants.

I can respect that kind of determination. Not the perversity though.

The Best Hairspray.

I'll admit it... I was 12 years old in 1989, and I used to style my hair "big."

You know...


(Disclaimer: This is NOT a picture of me. It's a picture I found in Image Search. All pictures of me with big hair were burned around 1992.)

Tall bangs, teased, and hair sprayed till completely immobile... Even in the fiercest of wind.

My weapons of choice to achieve this height with my bangs was a hard-edged brush from the local drugstore (it was awful on hair), and Aussie hairspray. (I liked the smell.)

By the time I was 14 though, I had started high school and kissed the big hair "good-bye." It was the early 90s, and smooth-straight locks (a la Kelly Taylor, 90210) were all the rage. So I no longer needed hair spray.

I didn't pick up another bottle of hairspray until about a year and a half ago. I decided to get some fancy stuff while at a salon, after a haircut. I like to curl my hair with big hot rollers sometimes. And when I do, my technique for styling my hair includes pulling the rollers out and immediately spraying the curls from a foot away.

The hair spray does a solid job of keeping the curl. But my hair ends up stiff, crunching, and "hard-looking." And that's not cool. It's not sexy. And it's not feminine.

However, while in London last week, I found a hairspray that would save me from giving up on my big sexy curls.

I had heard a lot about this particular hairspray from various beauty books. Everyone seemed to love it. They all said the same thing, "It keeps your hair in place without making it hard. It stays soft."

So while at one of the Boots stores in London, I picked up two bottles of the best hairspray in the world, L'Oreal Elnett.




... And I soon discovered why it is raved about by beauty addicts.

Unfortunately though, this hairspray is not available in the United States. Various theories are out there on the Internet, attempting to explain why it is not sold here. Everything from "it causes birth defects" to "it has a chemical that causes cancer" to "it is bad for the ozone layer."

True, it's not a "green" product. But there are many American-produced products that are not "green." And if it truly caused cancer or birth defects to any great degree, it would be written about to extensive degrees in various magazines and message boards online. So most of the "scariness" around the product is likely "bunk." So there's no obvious explanation as to why it's not sold here. (Does anyone know the official answer, by the way?)

Anyhow... It's a great product that truly works. But since it isn't available here in the U.S., the only way to get is to fly to the United Kingdom or buy it online. And it costs about $23 a bottle if you buy it online here in the U.S.

So it's safe for you to assume that I won't be using this stuff long term. I don't plan on going back to the U.K. anytime soon. I highly recommend picking up a bottle or dozen when you are in London next time though.

"Little In The Middle, But It's Got Much 'Back'"...

So, I've written before about how someone I work with refuses to eat "ass."

Now, I'm not being porno-graphic... What I mean is, "this person refuses to eat the ass of any animals." (So there are no prison references, though I do like to throw them in to conversation when I can.) They won't eat ham (swine ass) or roast (cow ass). And, quite frankly, those are the most tasty bits of their specific animals.

I'll try pretty much any animal ass. (Except "human ass." I don't do cannibalism.) But one particular "ass" I can't do is "fruit ass."

Okay... Wait a second... I'm not being perverse... Please let me explain...

I got my Boston Organics fruit delivery yesterday. In my box were a bunch of apples and pears. I unloaded some of the pears and apples onto my desk at work... So I could have something to snack on during the day...

Well, I went to go snack on one of my pears today, and I just couldn't do it...



"This pear looks like it has an ass," I said. "I can't eat it now."

My co-worker took a look at it and agreed.

"I definitely couldn't eat it," they said.

"Oh yeah, that's right," I agreed. "You don't eat ass. Not even in prison."

As a side note... My work review is coming up soon. Hopefully all this "ass talk" won't count against me.

But seriously, could you eat a pear that had an "ass"?

Bank Of America Credit Protection Plus.

Bank of America is shaaaaaady!

The Friday that I left for London, I called my Bank of America to let them know that I would be traveling abroad and that there would be activity on my credit card from London. While on the phone, the representative asked me if I was interested in the Credit Protection Plus program.

Now, I have been inadvertently enrolled in this program in the past. The way it worked back then is they automatically enrolled you in it UNLESS you let them know you didn't want it. And what it is is a protection against any interest on debt you have accrued on your card in the event that you lose your job or can't make the payment.

Well, I don't need this service. In fact, most people don't. It is billed monthly to your credit card and costs $0.95 per $100 of balance you carry.

So I told the representative on the phone, "No thanks. I am not interested. You do NOT have my permission to enroll me. Do not enroll me."

Well, I guess he didn't understand what I was saying... Because yesterday I got a notice in the mail that read, "Congratulations and thank you for enrolling in Credit Protection Plus. You have made a wise decision."

Umm... Anger ensues.

I call B of A this afternoon, when I finally have time, to tell them "take me off this service." I navigate my way through their phone system to get finally get a human, and here's how the conversation goes:

Rep: "I see you're a member of our Credit Protection Plus Program. Congratulations! How can I assist you today?"

("Congratulations?" Did I win something?)

Me: "Yeah. I'm actually calling about the program. When I called two weeks ago to let you all know I was going to be traveling abroad, the rep asked me if I was interested in joining the program. I told him specifically, 'YOU DO NOT HAVE MY PERMISSION TO ENROLL ME.' And now I find my self enrolled. Take me off now, please."

Rep: "Let me just look at the notes on the account."

She takes a few moments.

Rep: "I see that you were just enrolled last week. You should read through the benefits before deciding."

Me: "Umm.... Yeah... I don't care about the benefits. Unroll me now. You all didn't have my permission to enroll me. In fact, I told you specifically not to."

Rep: "Perhaps you didn't really listen to the representative when you called. If you just understood the benefits..."

Me, cutting her off: "Unroll me now. I'm not going to argue with you. You people enrolled me without my permission. Unroll me now. I don't care about the benefits."

Rep: "I'm doing it now, ma'am."

A few seconds later, the call ended.

What assholes though.

Don't you think?

What I Am Up To Today...

Apologies for my silence lately... I've just been so incredibly busy at work last week and this week. I'm so buried in keyword analysis and numbers right now that I find myself snapping at any and every thing that comes in my path.

For instance, The Husband just came in to my office to show me some houses in Toronto that would be good for us to just look at... After five minutes though, I kicked him out. I am trying to do something, and can't really break away to compare houses.

I also so tired right now.

I think I might just say "screw it" and go to bed.

It's NOT Mexican Independence Day, People!

Sweet mother-freaking be-jesus!

If I hear one more person say, "Hey! Happy Mexican Independence Day, Missus!"... I will seriously beat someone down.

Cinco de Mayo is NOT Mexican Independence Day. It's the day that is recognized for the Battle of Puebla. However, Mexican-Americans (and everyone else) have adopted it as a reason to chill out and drink Mexican beers and margaritas.... Which I am okay with, don't misunderstand me.

... I just want to make sure everyone understands what they are celebrating...

Anyhow, I celebrated this "Fifth of May" by hanging out for an hour at Fajitas and Ritas in Downtown Crossing. We got there right after work, and we were told it was "an hour wait" for a table.

So we waited. And drank margaritas while we waited.

Then, after an hour, I went to go check on the wait list. The bar was packed. So, so despite my screaming "Excuse me, por favor!" there was one dumb bi-atch who wouldn't move her fat arse.

So I pushed her out of my way and said, "Sorry! Pardon me!"

I got the head waiter, and he said, "Your table is now ready right here." I threw my coat an drink down on the table, and went back to get the other three people I was with there.

As I walked back through the crowded bar, after collecting my crew, the dumb bi-atch who I nearly knocked over before said to me, "Umm... Yeah, you knocked me over before."

I looked at her and said, "Oh gosh! I'm so sorry. Deal with it!"

(Seriously, I sit there screaming "excuse me," and everyone BUT you hears me? Sorry, but it's your problem sista, not mine. Get some better friends who will help you hear things clearly in a crowded bar.)

I guess, though, that answer wasn't good enough for her (and who can really blame her? I can be blunt, there's no denying that.) So AFTER I walked away, she said something to the effect of, "I ought to kick her ass." (My friend heard her say this.)

My repsonse to her would be, "Say that to my face next time lady. I fight dirty, make no mistake. You might not be walking after you take me on." But she said it AFTER I walked away.

So, today's lesson, people: Don't expect niceties when you go out to a bar last minute for Cinco de Mayo. Especially from a Mexican-American who just had a stressful few days before... As they will show no sympathy and not be afraid to knock some people around, even though they're normally super-duper nice.

Cinco de Mayo may not be "Mexican Independence Day," but it is "The Missus Will Kick Your Ass Day," if you mess with her after she's had two strawberry margaritas.

People betta recognize!