Fall Style: What I Am Thinking...

I've put in a lot research for my Fall shopping... And I haven't found much that I love, but there are a few things that are getting closer to being on my final shopping list...

Theory "Magrite" Mini Dress
This is a perfect work dress. Throw some opaque black tights and some booties... And it's a stellar look for Fall.



Anthropologie "Tree Rose" Cuff
Gorgeous! A really wonderful, chunky piece for my arm.



Christian Louboutin "C'est Moi" Shoe Boots
Yes... I still want these badly. I can't get them out my head. I visit them every few weeks at Barneys in the Copley. They are incredible.



I'll wait a few weeks before I finalize anything. But at least I've gotten some where with my research. I haven't fallen in love with much this season yet.

BOLT BUS MISHAP....

Okay...

So, the NYC trip is off to an odd start...

About 20 minutes after I did my last post on how great the Bolt Bus is, we had a little incident...

We were turning a corner at the top of Central Park, to head down the West Side to Penn Station. That's when all of the sudden we heard a loud scratching sound and then plastic shattering.



Yep, the window right across the aisle from us had been hit by a scaffolding corner put up around a building. And because the bus is so large and the scaffolding came out so far, when we turned the corner so tightly, the window got busted.

Glass shattered everywhere. The two girls who were sitting in our row, across the way, weren't hurt. But both they and The Husband and I got sprayed with chunks of plastic-glass.

Here's a view of the situation from the outside of the bus...





Our bus driver, who's name was Lewis, was a very good man. He was a very safe driver, and he handled the whole incident professionally. No one was hurt, just a little shocked.

The Husband and I grabbed our bags and just decided to cab it down to our hotel from the scene of the incident. I would still highly recommend taking the Bolt Bus to NYC if you have the chance, as it was a good experience otherwise.

I did have a few shards of plastic-glass material in my bag afterward though.

Bolt Bus To NYC: No Better Way To Get There.

... Unless you can a hop a private jet to Teterboro. But, if you are trying to save money for clothes and luxury hotel rooms, then the Bolt Bus is THE way to go.

At this very second, I am on the Bolt Bus, on my way to NYC for the weekend. And I must say... "This thing ROCKS!"



The seats are comfy... The legroom is plenty... There are PLUGS on the back of some seats, so that you can charge your laptops and cells... AND THERE IS FREE WIFI!

Even better... The bus pulls over in Connecticut two hours in to the trip and stops at a place where the is a Taco Bell.

This thing is heaven.

I highly recommend the Bolt Bus the next time you need to go between Boston and NYC.

Commentary while writing this post:
"I think writing 'heaven' is an over statement," said The Husband. "This is a bus."

"They stopped at a Taco Bell," I justified. "Enough said."

Birthday Celebration: The Ascended Masters.

What a fun time!

Went to Om for Frogger's b-day dinner. I must say, I need to get out to Harvard Square more often. This was a great place. The dinner was very good. They didn't have all the drinks on the cocktail menu that they listed online (and we REALLY wanted to try the Violet Femmes drink), but the two that I ordered were delicious: the Lavender Cosmo and the Rosemya.

I only got halfway through the second cocktail (the Rosemaya) and I was SMASHED. Well, not "smashed." But SILLY DRUNK. (What did I expect, though? I had nearly no food all day, and I went to a 6am training session AND a noon Bikram class!)

When the bill came at the end of the meal, the four of us who weren't the birthday girl (Bail, Whale, The Husband and Me) each looked at the bill. Bail and I laughed out loud at the bill... Not because of the cost... But because of the numbers on it.

See, Bail and I are in to numerology. Probably me way more than her... But I find numbers significant. (Which is funny, because I nearly failed all high school and university math classes.) So when the bill came, Bail looked at it and then passed it to me and said I would find it very significant. And I did. I TOTALLY DID.

Now, since Frogger reads this blog, I won't write what the bill total was... But I will interpret for her the meaning of these numbers. Now, the numbers listed are numbers that I am going to divide up into two sets.

And, the first set of numbers, in numerology, means:
You are being loved, guided and protected in every way.

The second set of numbers means:
Money is taking care of itself. Focus on giving to others, and you will always have enough to spare and share.

I think this is a message for Frogger on her birthday that she really shouldn't worry and stress out as much as she might do.

Sarah Palin...

She's pro-life and against same-sex marriage...

That's enough for me to say, "Thanks, but no thanks, John McCain. I appreciate you pandering to my ovaries by picking a woman - one who just gave birth in April... But there's no way I am voting for you. But you already knew that."

Vacation Days - Four Days Unscheduled!

Bit of a dilemma today...

I just got a reminder from HR in London that I need to schedule any holiday time I am taking off in December by October 1st. And that made me realize...

"Between J's wedding in Cabo and my Rome trip with Frogger, I've only taken seven days so far. That means I have 15 left to schedule!"

Now, I realize most people wouldn't complain about too much vacation time... So I won't either. But even after I take the day for our friend's wedding in Toronto in October... The four days to go home to Arizona for Thanksgiving... And the 6 days for my brother-in-law's wedding in Melbourne... That still leaves me with four days I have to schedule.

And at my company, they have a strict "use it or lose it" policy. If I don't use it by December 31st, it does not transfer over.

So I guess random Fridays off for the rest of the year?

UPDATE:
Hee! Hee! I just checked the HR tracking sheet... None of the days I have taken so far have been counted, so I technically have 22!

But, since I am an honest person, I contacted HR and let them know that they hadn't counted them yet.

Happy Birthday Frogger!

Yay!

Frogger turns another year older today!

She is not in at work today... And rightly so. She's taking the day off and getting a massage and her hair done. Later tonight, Bail, Whale (Bail's husband), Human (my husband) and I are taking her to Om in Harvard Square for cocktails and dinner.

And I am so looking forward to the cocktails part... Their drink menu at Om is awesome.

Seriously, these are like the perfect Zen cocktails for after a yoga class... Only problem is though, after 90 minutes of Bikram, all you crave is coconut water and fruit.

"Lavendar Martini," "The Essential Martini with vodka scotch & jasmine essence" and the "Manhattan Nirvana?" I am ready to meditate to these drinks right now!

"Ommmmm!"

New Fall Bikram Schedule.

Was just over at the BYB site checking the schedule for tomorrow and saw that they had the Fall schedule up...



Woohoo! The early classes are on Tuesdays and Thursdays during the week. This means I can get in more classes during the week.

Also, they are planning another 30-Day challenge in October. I have to do some traveling over the first weekend in October... But I may be able to do some doubles in order to get it all in this time.

And it was just two years ago that I finished my first 30-day challenge. If I do this one in October, it will be my fifth in two years. It never gets old!

Swearing At Six In The Morning...

In my Monday morning training session this week, I was chatting with my trainer about how I got into trouble recently for my "colorful" language.

I explained that I "swear a whole eff-ing lot. And I don't plan on stopping this shiz because that's how I eff-ing roll. If people don't like it, they can go eff themselves."

He laughed and told me he hopes I don't get fired for my foul language. Actually, his words were something along the lines of...

"Wow! Really? Well, don't fucking get fired! Because then you won't be able to get your sorry ass in here to fucking work out with me. Now let's do some fucking pull-ups."

Flash forward to today... And I just received a text message from the trainer...

Trainer Text: 6am tomorrow?

The Missus Text: Cool and the gang!

Trainer Text: That is dope yo! No fucking swearing at work today, ok!

The Missus Text: Bite me. Oh yeah... And go fuck yourself.

Trainer Text: HAHAHAHAHA

Ours is a very funny relationship. He tells me to do pull-ups, push-ups and lunges with an obscene amount of weight... And I swear at him. But I still do it.

So far, I like the new trainer! The fun conversations make getting up at 5am to workout so much easier.

Sexy, Sweaty, Bum-Clenching Yoga.

You know... When I practice Bikram, I try really hard to focus and zone out any passing thoughts or internal dialogue I have. I mean, I am there to heal and strengthen my body... Not replay my day or carry on conversations in my head. But in last night's class, I had trouble with that.

I was having a really great practice. The temperature was scorching (106 with 68% humidity). And it wasn't affecting me in a bad way. I was able to zone out the heat and just pose. I had my serious and focused "yoga face" on... But then I burst out laughing.

No, I wasn't having a psychotic fit.

It was while in Locust Pose. I was using all the muscles in my back (and butt) to lift my legs as high up as possible. And that's when I heard this...

"Come on! Use you buns! This is sexy yoga! You have to use your sexy buns to lift your legs way high up! It's sexy yoga, we are half naked!"

Bikram teachers are so funny. I couldn't help but laugh out loud when she said this. It is sexy, sweaty, bum-clenching yoga.

Another Resume Tip...

Dear Person Who Sent Me A Submission And Called My Company By Our Competitor's Name,

Obviously we were not impressed with the fact that you opened your cover letter with "Dear COMPETITOR'S NAME Hiring Manager."

Sure, our competitor, who started after us, does have a recognizable and similar name to us. But if you can't even get straight the name of the company you are applying to, well, that signals to me that you are not a "details person."

So, why would I even consider you for a writing position within our company?

I suggest you pay better attention next time before you hit "send."

XOXO,
The Missus

I Had To Get A New Phone, Again.

So, the shitty refurbished phone Sprint sent me last month as a replacement stopped working this morning.

It was fully charged, but it wouldn't turn on anymore.

So the first chance I had, I went to the Sprint store in Downtown Crossing to get a new one. I marched into the store and walked up to the first available rep I saw and said...

"My replacement phone you sent me last month has stopped working. I need a replacement. And I can't extend my contract because I may be moving in 9 months. So what do you have to show me?"

Well, turns out, they don't have much. I ended up with this ghetto phone...



Please note the buttons...



And the lack of a camera feature.

This lovely piece of shite cost me well north of $100. And I would have just scrapped it and gotten month-to-month phone from Verizon or other service provider... But seeing as both my husband and I have filled out immigration paperwork for each other's home countries with my current cell number, I wasn't going to switch phone numbers.

Oh... If and when I do get to Canada, I am going straight out and getting whatever super slick piece of technology is available at the time. I am through with ghetto phones!

Resume Tips.

Just a few observations/recommendations for people out there in the Universe currently submitting themselves for various employment opportunities...

• Please make sure to spell check your cover letter and resume.
• Please note: "resume" is not the same as "rsume."
• If you are applying for a job where you will be writing, please make sure you DOUBLE spell check your resume and cover letter.
• Don't send an email saying that your "resume is attached," and then forget to attach it.
• Don't send an email with the only words in the cover letter being, "This position sounds intriguing." You aren't responding to a profile on a dating site.
• If the job that's been posted says that it is "entry-level," then don't apply saying, "I have over 20 years of experience and am looking for a mid-level or higher position." Because frankly, I don't care.
• If you haven't been out of school for more than 10 years, your resume better not be more than one page long. It is ridiculous to have a two-page OR LONGER resume when you only just graduated from university in 2006. Keep it short and brief, and to one page.
• Also, it's a small city, people. I have seen two resumes come my way in the span of 48 hours where people said they are currently employed at particular companies. BUT, I happen to know people who know them, and it turns out they are no longer employed with these companies. So either people are being lazy and not updating their resumes OR they are flat-out trying to cover stuff up.
  
• And finally, if you know George Clooney from one of your previous Hollywood jobs, it would be helpful if you mentioned it in your cover letter. You might get an interview just based on the interviewer's fascination with him.

That's all I have for now. I may have more tips to add to this list.

Why So Silent?

Things have been a little crazy lately, people.

Actually... Please allow me to rephrase that...

I have had to deal with the following moods lately:

• Happy - Because I get to expand my team at work.
• Overwhelmed - Because now I have to hire a whole team at work.
• Angry - Because of a stupid person. A total doo-shay bag.
• Happy - Because my boss has reassured me that I am doing a good job, and "no," I'm not about to be fired.
• Scared & Frustrated - Because of Frogger's attempted break-in.
• Angry - Because someone thought I was voting for McCain. (He's crazy people. Senile.)
• Triumphant - Because I had a great yoga class yesterday.
• Bored - I seem to have low-energy outside of work. I hadn't cleaned my home office in week. Clothes were everywhere on the floor. Magazines, make-up and books are piled on my desk.
• Gray & Blonde - I was in bad need of a cut and color at Umi. My gray and blonde streaks were coming back in. Yikes!
• Hairy - I hadn't waxed my eyebrows since before my brother's wedding in April.

I just feel so tired and drained lately. I think it's the wide-ranging emotions. And the Summer. I tend to have very low energy in the Summertime. So to perk me back up ("perk" being the operative word), I have switched to straight coffee with no milk or creamer in it. And I am doing mostly non-flour carbohydrates. And no potatoes. (They make me feel slow.)

And I am looking forward to the weekend in NYC I have coming up. I just need the Fall Season to get into full swing. I tend to pull myself together and into a regular schedule in the Fall.

I promise, I will get back into blogging regularly. (Like two to three times a day.) I just need my creative energy to snap back.

LBD: Silk Georgette From Banana Republic.

The other day I was telling Frogger about how displeased I have been lately with Banana Republic.

I feared that they had gotten really lazy lately with the quality of their design and construction. I had bought things that pilled and fell apart almost immediately after buying them.

I had given up on ever shopping at Banana Republic in the near future.. Until I saw this...

The Tie-Neck Silk Georgette Dress...



And you may commence drooling.

Seriously, how gorgeous is this piece? It is amazing. It is a classic example of a Little Black Dress (LBD). I am dying to buy it. But, I don't need it. I mean, I have two LBDs in my closet already. At least!

There's the one-shoulder dress by Vince... And the eyelet see-through one from Calypso... Oh! And a cleavage-enhancing wrap piece from Banana Republic a few years ago... Oh! And speaking of wrap dresses - there's the Diane vonFurstenburg classic black wrap The Husband got me for Christmas nearly two years ago...

So yeah... I don't need a new LBD. But I hope one of you readers decide to get this piece. It's gorgeous!

Total Panda-Monium.

Give us this day... Our daily Panda-porn.




Aww!

Channeling Heathers: CORN NUTS!

... Another scene favorite from Heathers...



God! I am really loving Winona Ryder's outfit in this scene! It really is a cute look.

Channeling Heathers: Eff Me Gently With A Chainsaw!

One of my favorite movies from the 80s (and there are quite a few) is the movie Heathers.

For some of you, one reason I like this movie may be obvious. But beyond the obvious, I love this movie because of the writing.

The story, the delivery, the fashion... It's all incredible.

One of my favorite scenes from the entire film is this one...



God... I really think it's time to bring back the fashion from the late 80s/early 90s.

Think 90210/Heathers... Blazers... Tights... Loafers... Skirts... PREPPY! PREPPY! PREPPY!

Some Safety Advice.

My friend Frogger had a little mishap yesterday with her apartment... But she didn't learn of it until this morning...

The gist of the story is that Frogger went to go get coffee this morning and saw that the deadbolt/lock on her door was dented and messed with. It still worked. But it was obvious that someone had tried to break in. So she went and got her landlord, who confirmed her suspicion.

They then went downstairs and asked on of the neighbors if they had seen anything odd yesterday. One neighbor confessed that they had let someone in the building who had wanted to go up to Frogger's apartment. They said they were an "exterminator." They didn't have a uniform, name tag or any identifiable business affiliation. They did, however, have mousetraps.

I think Frogger wanted to punch the dumb neighbor's face in...

THIS IS THE OLDEST TRICK IN THE BOOK PEOPLE!

Safety Rule To Follow:
If someone wants into your building/house, and they are not for you or you didn't schedule an appointment... DO NOT LET THEM IN!!!!

Frogger is going to the hardware store to get some additional security for her apartment. She'll be fine. And thank God her door was sturdy enough to stand up to the break-in and protect her stuff.

But if I ever meet her dippy neighbor though, I will punch her stupid face in!

Blow By Blow: Getting The Job Done Beautifully.

No, no, no... It's not what you think. (I am not trying to be offensive. Because God knows it would be a bad thing to offend people...) I'm talking about getting a blow DRYING job on your hair!

How many times have you gone to the salon to get your hair "did" and NOT been able to replicate the blown out style the stylist gave you?

This is a problem of great significance.

I was reading through the latest issue of InStyle last night, and in one of the pieces I read that at the Mario Russo Salon in Boston you can learn the fine art of giving your hair an incredible blow out that you usually can't achieve on your own.

I had no idea you could receive professional lessons for this type of thing. Depending on how I cut my hair today, I may go in for some lessons. This is definitely useful.

Dear "Universe"...

Dear Universe,

Apparently, we seem to have a great misunderstanding...

You seem to think that all I am doing with my "life" is dilly-dallying around. I wake up in the morning... I dilly... I dally all throughout the day... And then I come home at night and sleep.

You think I take nothing serious and spend my time not doing super-fantastic things for you and for others.

But I'd like to take this opportunity to point something out for you: YOU ARE TOTALLY FUCKING WRONG.

I contribute far more to the energy in the space we take up in your Universe than a lot of others. In reality, my "dilly-dallying" is just my approach to life within you.

I apologize if I am not one of those people who spew nothing but frustrated and whiny-energy. I just feel that my "life" within you isn't that difficult. And I am sorry, but I refuse to make it come off as difficult.

No, dear Universe, I will not succumb to your desire to make me think that I should be anything other than the spunky, take-no-shit-from-no-one, colorful, quirky, cheeky, enthusiastic person I was put in this Universe to be.

So, dear Universe, if you want me to change... I kindly say, "No."

But, I am not a complete bitch. I can compromise. I will stay the way I am... But I ALSO WILL NOT TRY TO CONVERT OTHERS to be the same way I am.

Not everyone has to be happy and a bright beam of sunshine. If others in this Universe choose to be sorry sour-pusses who like to drown their sorrows in alcohol and promiscuous activities*, I will not look down on them. I will not judge them. (And trust me, Universe, the "not-judging" bit is a big mother-fucking step for me to commit to!)

I will simply go through my life within you, Universe, doing what I do best. I respect that you may not think I am doing my best... But one day you will realize it. And I am doing well by you. (Very fucking well.)

So, until then... Here's me, The Missus, sending my positive energy out into you, Universe. And working really, really hard on NOT telling you, quite simply, "To go fuck yourself."

Hugs and Kisses,
The Missus

*I have to add a disclaimer... Because I know many people who like to have alcohol and partake in promiscuous activities... But they are not doing it to drown their sorrows. It is their approach to life. And it's healthy (Yes, I wrote "healthy") and good. It's when you do it only to escape that it is sad. (Sorry! I will not judge from here on out!)

Equinox: What's The Deal?

Typically, my workout schedule looks like this:

Monday:
AM - Equinox
PM - Bikram

Tuesday:
PM - Equinox

Wednesday:
PM - Bikram

Thursday:
PM - Equinox

Friday:
AM - Equinox
PM - Bikram

Saturday:
PM - Bikram

Sunday:
Rest, read paper and magazines and shop... Because that's how God wants it.

This week, though, Monday and Friday were the only days I was going to get to the gym. I realized this earlier in the week when I found myself exhausted after work a few days. I've made it to every Bikram class on my schedule, but the gym workouts had to be put on hold on Tuesday and Thursday.

So I got up this morning to hit the gym for my 5:30am training session. I was up at 5am. And I was out the door 20 minutes later. However, when I got there, I was surprised by a delay...

The gym was not open.

This is the second time this has happened in the past month. Whoever is supposed to open the gym at 5:30am doesn't show up. So all the 5:30am regulars and the trainers stand in the lobby of the building, waiting. And this means that everyone's workouts get cut short. And if you meet with a trainer, like me, it means you either have to do a shorter session (but still pay the same amount) or you have to reschedule... Which sucks for the trainer.

My trainer and I decided to just go ahead and reschedule, since no one showed up till just before 6am to open the gym.

It's such a pain in the ass though. I only had a certain amount of time to work out this morning, so I just decided to bag going in to get a quick run on the treadmill. I'm covered for a workout today, since I am going to Bikram. But I would have liked to have trained.

Hmm... Chewy Fish Oil!

I hate pills.

People who know me know that I can not swallow pills. If they're any bigger than a birth control pill, they ain't going down. When I have had to take a big pill (like Clomid or BActrim), I had to crush the thing up. Which often didn't taste good AND got the drugs into my system much faster. (Which is not good when something is supposed to be time-released.)

So often, with over-the-counter medication, I buy the children's liquid version. Liquids I can always get down. With vitamins, I pop Flintstones complete every day. (Even for adults, they provide MANY of the nutrients and minerals you need each day! And they taste good.) But one supplement that I was missing out on each day was fish oil.

Ah, yes... That lovely Omega-3 fatty acids that one needs each day to help with a number of body health areas. Fish oil is good for:

• Reducing heart disease
• Maintaining normal cholesterol levels
• Joint and brain health
• Beautifying the skin

But the fish oil pills you find in health stores? Those things are HUGE. And there's no way I can get them down. So I figured there just wasn't going to be an opportunity to take in fish oil, unless I wanted to eat fish. And the fish that have the Omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, sardines, anchovies) are fish I hate.

But, as I was walking in downtown at lunch yesterday, I saw in the window of a GNC store a new product...



It's Omega-3 chewable form!!!!

I went in and bought some. They were $20 for a bag of 60.

When I got back to my desk, I popped them open and took one. Each chew looks and smells like and orange Starburst candy. It has the taffy consistency of them as well. And you know what?

THEY ARE DELICIOUS!

Swear to Balenciaga and McQueen! They are yummy.

I now take them each day when I come into work. First, I pop my Flintstones vitamin, then I pop my chew.

I am a power-packed nutrient machine!

They Like Fucking With Canadians.

Bit of a dilemma...

The Husband still has not received his permanent Greencard. His temporary Greencard expired last week. Although he doesn't have the permanent one, our immigration lawyers assure us that because "he is in the system, he is fine. He can come and go from the country as he needs to, until the permanent card comes."

But you know what? I don't trust it. I don't believe the lawyers, and I don't believe that U.S. immigration is going to allow him to "come and go" as he needs to.

Why?

Because they fucked us before. Five years ago. The Husband got stuck in Canada for weeks right after we moved to Boston. A city in which I knew no one. And I had just moved here a week before.

Additionally, we have seen them fuck other people we know coming from Canada. Therefore, I do not trust the whole lot.

This wouldn't be that big of an issue except that The Husband and I have a lot of traveling that we will be doing in the next few months. And some of the traveling is international. We have a friend's wedding that we would like to attend in October, and then we have The Husband's brother's* wedding in Melbourne over the New Year.

If The Husband doesn't have his permanent Greencard in hand in December for the Melbourne wedding, fine. I can deal with him getting sent back to Canada after the New Year. But before then? No. Absolutely not.

So The Husband and I just had a "discussion" about the trips we are taking this Fall. He started off the discussion by complaining about how much money we're spending on trips this Fall.

I pointed out that the NYC trip is really only costing us the hotel... As we are taking the Bolt Bus to NYC, and that's super cheap. Then I pointed out that we have to go home to Arizona for American Thanksgiving to visit my family. And those tickets are under $1000.

"The trips that are going to cost us the most are your brother's wedding and your friend's wedding," I told him.

And that's when I then reminded him that he didn't have his permanent Greencard, and that I would prefer we not risk going to the wedding in October if he does not have the Greencard in his hands.

"We have to go to Melbourne for the wedding," I said. "But the wedding in Toronto is the optional one. If we don't have your card in hand by mid-September, we can't go."

He knows I'm right. So help me God, I will be highly pissed if he travels internationally and does not have his Greencard in hand. They fucked him once, and I guarantee you they will do it again.

They like fucking with Canadians who pay a shit-load in U.S. taxes each year. Why? I don't know. But they do.

*Oh yeah. Forgot to mention. The brother-in-law has now decided that he and his fiance are not going to be coming back from Australia after the wedding. They originally weren't going to move to Australia (she is from there) for a few more years. they were going to stay in Toronto for at least a couple more. But now they have decided that when they go in December, they won't be coming back. So not only have I never lived in the same city as my brother-in-law, I now won't ever live near him. I won't even live in the same hemisphere as him! We're gonna be real close, can you tell?

Fall Trend: Graphic Black & White.

In case you didn't know, Miss Casey from Texas won my Vacation Idea contest earlier this month. Her prize was something fashionable... Something that fits along with one of the most popular trends for this Fall: Graphic Black & White.

Casey's prize (which is in the process of being shipped to her) is the McQ (McQueen) Kaleidescope print scarf...



This was a piece I loved and wanted for myself as well, so that I could get in on the b&w trend... But after I ordered Casey's, I went in to order myself one, and that's when I realized...

They were now out of stock!

LOL!

They were a coveted sale item at Net-a-Porter... And as soon as they went on sale, they were swept up!

I am very happy that I was able to still get one for the contest prize. And I hope Miss Casey finds a fashionable use for it.

So now I have to find a way to get in on this trend in a different way, since the scarf isn't available.

From The Desk Of The Missus.

Lately, I spend most evenings and a good chunk of my time sitting in my "Master of the Universe" chair, contemplating my existence.

Not really.

What I really do is sit at my desk, reading magazines, procrastinating (severely) on Fellatio in the Garden of Eden, and putting on make-up. I spend so much time dilly-dallying here that I felt I should share it with you...

Here is what my desk looks like currently...



Upper Left Corner

• Fashion & beauty books.
• John Derian tray with frequently-worn jewelry.

Upper Middle

• Collection of Jo Malone fragrances.
• E45 cream from Boots in London.
• Lemon soy candle.
• Gardenia candle.
• Neutrogena hand cream.
• Hot pink peony I wore on my wedding dress, at the waist.
• Silver-plated mini trunk with jewelry.
  

Upper Right

• iPod speakers.
• White sage (which I still need to burn).
• West Elm lamp.
• William Yeoward vase with my collection of $5 bills.
• A small bottle of Absinthe. (Which Bail got me from her tip to Paris. I may use it soon to kick start my writing.)
• Make-up case with loads of make-up.

Lower Right

• Quirkyalone. (Thanks again, Vanessa!)
  
• Story Structure Architect.
• Two floral coasters.

Lower Middle

• Silver drink tray.
• Starbucks Double-Tall Soy Latte.

Lower Left

• Stacks of September fashion magazines.
• Box of fancy matches.

Louboutin Snakeskin Boot: Not Available In CA?

Very sexy and hot... I am in love with the Christian Louboutin Snakeskin boots available at Bergdorf's...



However... This is too severe and vampy a look for me to pull off... They are nearly five inches in the stiletto, without a platform... So there is no way I will shell out my entire clothing budget for them. Especially since I would barely be able to walk in them.

And it looks as though I won't be the only one prohibited from buying them. It looks like anyone living in California is shit-out-of-luck when it comes to purchasing them through Bergdorf's as well...



Wonder what that's all about?

Vacation Destination: NYC!

So The Husband and I finally got around to doing our research this afternoon... And we have agreed and now booked our next vacation (which will be Labor Day weekend)...

NYC!

No surprise! We went there last Labor Day weekend. Only this time, we're NOT staying at the W Hotel, and we are busing it instead of flying.

We decided that even though Las Vegas, Denver and Seattle all sounded appealing for a quick vacation, we didn't want to go to far from Boston. And I really wanted to do Mohonk Mountain... But we don't have a car, and we don't really want to rent one.

What can I say? We are lazy people. If it's not convenient, we just won't experience it.

But NYC...

We're staying at the Plaza Athenee hotel, which is on the Upper East Side, near Madison Avenue on 64th Street. We're going to hit the Met, the Guggenheim and possibly one other museum during our two days there. And of course, I full intend to hit the original Barney's and Bergdorf's while there too.

So this means Casey has won the contest. She suggested we eat and shop our way around the city.

CASEY: I NEED YOUR CONTACT INFO SO THAT I CAN SEND YOU YOUR PRIZE... PLEASE EMAIL ME AT commongroundblog@gmail.com.

Current Craving: Fashion Art Books.

Since I've been organizing my desk this weekend, I realized that I often sift through the three fashion/beauty art books I currently have sitting on my desk... And I could certainly use more.

I want to begin a home library of fashion and beauty art books!

So this evening, I have been browsing through pages online trying to decide what I think would be good to add to my collection first... So people who like to buy me presents, pay attention! (Christmas is only a few months away!)

Here's what I have my eyes on currently:

Balenciaga and His Legacy...



The Little Dictionary of Fashion by Christian Dior



Paris 1962: Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Dior: The Early Collections



The Golden Age of Couture: Paris and London 1947 - 1957



Marc Jacobs

Should I Cut My Hair All Off???

I am so tempted, people!

My friend Bon-Fier chopped all of hers off and she look incredible. As in, "Ohmigod this chick is so one of my most incredibly hot friends! Guys are DROOLING over her!"

My hair is now past my shoulders. It's past my shoulders because it grows like a weed. It used to be part-way down my back last Summer, till I cut it off an dyed a hot pink streak in it one day.

But now, I am craving a more sophisticated look. A little less Bohemeian...

Hmm...

What do you all think? Should I go shorter... Like, around my chin? Or keep growing it out long?

Fab Sugar Denim Quiz: You're Damn Right I Know My Stuff!

I scored a 5 out of 5 on the Fab Sugar denim quiz just now.



Of course I know my denim! I've spent mucho time studying... And despite the score, I still think I am novice when it comes to denim!

Restaurant Week 2008: Aquitaine (We Went Anyway).

I decided not to cancel the reservation at Aquitaine for dinner. The Husband was really looking forward to going, and he promised that he would order different things than me.

So we went... And...

I ordered:

• Appetizer: Chilled Corn Soup
• Entree: Chicken with potato confit, corn and bacon
• Dessert: Chocolate Espresso Pots
• Drinks: Le Bleutini & a glass of Pinot Noir

Here's how I felt about each above choice:

• Appetizer: It blew. I tool two bites, and I made a pouty face that indicated to The Husband that we needed to switch plates. The corn soup tasted like it came straight from a can. The salted cod The Husband had ordered, though, was delicious. It was like a crab cake.
• Entree: The chicken was dry... But, well, it was chicken... So I wasn't expecting much. The corn, potato and bacon mixture was so good though!
• Dessert: I give them "props" for serving it with an espresso spoon... But overall, I wasn't impressed. The coffee ice cream tasted a little too icy, and lacked a proper creaminess.

As for the drinks... Le Bleutini was fantastic! And so was the Pinot. Aquitaine is a great place for cocktails and brunch. But Restaurant Week dinner... I must confess, I am not a fan.

Of course, when you kick off your Restuarant Week with Sibling Rivalry, everything after is bound to disappoint.

Aquitaine Restaurant Week Menu: It Blows.

I have dined at Aquitaine on Tremont Street a handful of times since moving to the South End three years ago. I have loved it every single time. However, I have decided to cancel my reservation for dinner there tonight.

Why?

Well, I went on to their website and got a sneak preview of their Restaurant Week menu... And it totally does not appeal to me or The Husband.

I'm not a picky eater, believe it or not. But I find beets, wax beans, plums, hard boiled eggs, chilled soups, and grape tomatoes all unappealing. And so does The Husband. So we would end up ordering the same dish for each course... Which is something we just don't do.

So I think we'll just book some place else for dinner. Even though it's only $33 for dinner at Aquitaine, I'd rather go some place that doesn't serve stuff that will make us puke.

I do commend Aquitaine for having placed their special menu online though...

Affordable Craving: Blue Plaid Fringe Scarf.

Wow... Could the Gap finally be making a comeback and getting things right again?

Check out this adorable piece I found on their website...



It's a fringed scarf in plaid with an ice blue trim.

Perfect for Fall... And it's just under $30. So it's a very affordable accessory!

I Needed Some Therapy.

While out on the company outing this week, I found myself in the Fenway area... Which gave me the perfect reason to finally check out the sister store to Jean Therapy...



Therapy!

I was really "wowed" and suprised by the store. I had heard about the work/cocktail apparel the store carried... But I wasn't expecting such a solid collection.

There were so many things that I eyed while in the store for the few stolen moments I had available. (I had to get back to my outing.) But I did manage to walk out of there with an incredible wool cap for only about $30...



This is going to be perfect for Fall and Winter. It covers my ears easily, and it's so cute on my head.

I have to go back in the next month to check out what's new for Fall. They had some shoes and some cashmere pieces already... So I am looking forward to what more arrives between now and September.

Summer Outing: A Recap.

So...

I was volunteered to plan my company's Summer Outing, as I mentioned earlier this week. Seeing as I hate "forced fun," I am still not sure why I was tapped to do it... But I did. And there were a lot of things I looked into having us do, including:

• Scavenger Hunt (We had a professional one organized for us last year... And it was.. Well.. It just "was." Enough said.)
• Sam Adams Brewery Tour (It's nearly free! But not everyone in the office likes beer.)
• An afternoon of swimming and drinking at the pool on top of the Colonade. (It had a $10k food and beverage minimum... So that was a "no-go.")
• Chartering a boat around Boston Harbor. (It was expensive and beyond our budget.)

So I decided to just plan a private Duck Tour. When I was doing so, the Duck Tour people on the phone also recommended this thing called "The Tomb" over by Fenway, as it was good for team-building.

"Great!" I said. "I have to include a team-building exercise into the event. So sign us up!"

The only other thing left to figure out was where to wrap the day up with food and drinks. And since we were near Fenway, Game On was a natural choice.

The Duck Tour was a lot of fun. Only about half the people in the office had even been on one... So it was good to finally get them on a boat and tour the city.

The Tomb would have been much more fun if we would have been drunk before going through it. It's really meant more for kids, and is totally cheesy. But the problem-solving stuff was challenging. And it would have been even more fun if we had been buzzed.

Game On was great fun. Only one person in the office was cut off from drinking during the three or so hours we were there. I would definitely go back there again for another corporate event in the future.

In total, the whole outing cost us what we paid last year for the "professionally arranged" scavenger hunt. And we had twice as many people this year, and we had way more fun. Even with The Tomb's cheesiness, it was fun. And it's always a good time when someone gets cut off from drinking at a bar.

Polished Professional Look.

I adore cashmere. Especially once Fall hits. And this (upcoming) Fall season, I love the Collared Cashmere Cardigan by Vince.



It's a simple collar tucked inside the cashmere sweater. I think it's genius!

If I had a job where I had to be more fancy, I would wear this piece under a J. Crew suit...



And I would throw a bold necklace on top.



And, of course, there would be shoes needed... Probably classic black pumps.

I Was Kidding!

So...

Today is my company's summer outing. And somehow, since it is a small-ish company, I got roped into planning the event. The only rules I was given were:

• Don't spend more than $XXXX.
• There should be food and alcohol.
• There has to be some kind of "team-building" event. (Which is the type of shit I hate. "Let's do trust falls!")

So, based on the rules, here is what I planned:

• 10:45am - Private Duck Tour. They pick us up near our office and drop us off at our next event...
• 12:30pm - TOMB. It's an indoor maze/adventure thing over by Fenway. It's perfect for team-building.
• 2pm - Game On! food, alcohol, sports.

The whole day finishes at like 5pm. When I showed the main boss in the office what I had planned (and what he had signed off on), he had a comment...

"You planned a whole day? I didn't want it to start until after lunch!" he said.

"You neglected to tell me that part. Oh well!" I told him.

Then, just to have fun... I decided yesterday to tell everyone in the office...

"Hey! The Summer outing is "1980s-themed dress! You have to dress up form the 80s for it!"

Then I followed that up with, "Sike! Just kidding!"

Well, apparently the main boss of the office didn't hear that part. And he came to the office dressed in jeans that he could peg, an 80s-style cap - turned backwards, high top electric green converse hightops - unlaced, and a tee from 1982.

Ha-ha!

Current Craving: "Beau" Blazer by Sally Tseng.

I must confess, I am loving the blazer look for the fall!

My latest love...

The "Beau" blazer by Sally Tseng.



It's totally hot over jeans or dresses... I prefer the black version to the white one myself. I mean, realistically, I just can't do white without making a mess.

The piece is just over $350, so it's a chunk of change. But I could see making this piece last quite a few seasons, again, if done in the black and not the white. (With the white, I would be lucky if it lasted one hour!)

I'll have to give this one some thought. Some real, serious thought. And, of course, I'll have to search around for a similar versions and compare quality. But to be honest, blazers can look really shoddy if not made properly. (Ralph Lauren, I'm talkin' 'bout you!) So this could be a piece where quality overrides the price factor.

Crack Is Probably Cheaper & Will Get You Just As Buzzed.

On my way to work today, I popped in to Starbucks to get my daily double-tall soy latte.

I always figure that I am "living on the edge" by doubling up the espresso in a small cup. But my "dangerous ways" were put to shame by the order of the guy standing behind me in line.

"Can I get the usual, please?" he asks the barista.

"That's six shots on ice, right?" asks the barista. (Who I have learned has been moved from the Starbucks on Mass Ave - near Berkley - to the South End location. Is that location closing????)

"Yep," confirms the guy. "Six shots, over a little bit of ice."

I don't even want to think about what six shots of espresso, lightly chilled, would do to me. I once, just for fun, did five shots within two hours at one of my previous jobs... When the company got a new fancy coffee machine that dispensed single shots of espresso.

I ended up lying on the floor feeling my heart pounding very fast. And I also got a little bit dizzy.

But six shots? In one drink? Oh that's just bad news. I wanted to say to the guy ordering it, "It's probably cheaper for you to just go back on crack. Starbucks is getting kind of expensive."

Restaurant Week 2008: Sibling Rivalry.

Tonight The Husband and I decided to take advantage of it being Restaurant Week and indulged ourselves at one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants... Sibling Rivalry.



We've eaten there a handful of times in the past three years... Usually reserving it for special occasions like anniversaries, New Year's Eve and birthdays. The bill gets quite high when we go, so we're not as inclined to dine there often. But since it's Restaurant Week, we each were entitled to a three-course dinner for $33.08.

Normally, with these special weeks, you usually get kinda of screwed on the variety. There's usually only a few dishes for each course to choose from, and they're usually "hit" or "miss." But not at Sibling Rivalry... They had at least 10 appetizer options and 10 entree options... And for dessert, they even came up with four options.

So there was quite an incredible variety!

They also offered a reasonable priced "wine tasting" to go with the Restaurant Week event, which I ordered along with my three courses. I started with a shrimp scampi with polenta medley... Then I chose some soba noodles with a pork mignon... And I ended with a butterscotch pudding. The Husband went with a lamb dish for starters, the short ribs for dinner and an oatmeal and berry thing for dessert.

Out of everything, the only thing that neither of us really cared for was my pork mignon. It was took dry and had absolutely no flavor... Despite the menu saying there was supposed to be a soy-ginger and anise glaze on it.

So overall, it was a great meal. The starters and the desserts were delicious. And my wine tasting (a white, red and dessert wine) was good as well.

I don't know if there are any spaces left this week to snag an eating time... But if you can, it is so worth it. Sibling Rivalry is definitely a great place to hit up for Restaurant Week.

R.I.P.: You're Damn Right...

Dear God,

I looked the other way yesterday when you decided it was time to take Bernie Mac away from us late Friday. After all, he had been sick for a while... And even the gossip sites had suggested that his pneumonia situation was "grave."

But now Isaac Hayes?

Come on!

This one was completely out of the blue!

How can I ever enjoy another playing of the theme song to Shaft or hear another round of Salty Chocolate Balls with out feeling bitter?

The only way this weekend could suck more is if you decided to go ahead and take Paul Newman away from us as well.

I'm watching you, Lord. Watching and hoping you aren't hating on me too much this weekend.

XOXO,
The Missus

Perfect Work-Life Bag.

From time to time, people write in asking me for help finding something. A few months back, Bex wanted me to show he some ideas for a work bag. She's one of those super busy professionals who's going to be juggling an executive job, law school, boyfriend and gym workouts in the Fall.

So, she (like many of us) needs a bag that (like her) can do it all... And carry it all.

I had given her a few suggestions... And I know she has already bought something... But I found a new bag that I think is perfect for work, school and gym...

The Boston Bag by Athleta.



The bag measures 17 1/2 inches by 23 inches by 7 inches. The inside of the bag has a cotton lining with a number of zip pockets to carry all the little items many of us find ourselves lugging around each day. There are two shorter straps and a longer strap to provide you with options on carrying it. But the two shorter straps are long enough for you to carry the bag over your shoulder.

Olympic Fashion - Not Feeling "It."

The Husband and I tucked into a meal of Chinoise food while watching the Opening Ceremony for the Olympics. It wasn't until we were halfway through the meal I realized we were watching Beijing and eating Chinese food. We found it delightful.

But you wanna know what I didn't find "delightful"?

Team USA's Opening Ceremony uniforms...



I am not loving the "dapper-sailing" outfit courtesy of Ralph Lauren. Why? Oh gee... Where to begin...

• The white newsboy cap does not flatter most people.
• Where's the eff-ing red? Navy blue and white??? Those are not America's colors!
• White pants? Not flattering on most people. Even super skinny athletic people.
• And, the piece-de-resistance... The blazer! And it looks horribly made!
  

I don't know about you... But I think it looks tacky. I'm cool with the Olympic logo on one side...



But the Ralph Lauren Polo logo on the other side? And notice it's on a visible pocket? It's too huge. And it's just plain tacky.

Many countries' delegations wore Fedora-style rimmed hats though...

They were seen on the French team...



The team from Spain...



The Russian team...



And even Kazakhstan...



I like the Fedora-esque look. (But not the rest of most of the outfits.)

*Images are screenshots from an interactive piece on the NYTimes Style section.

Itchy, Burning Throat.

Despite downing many cups of herbal tea today, and feeling really hydrated, I had an awful Bikram class.

Awful.

My throat was burning and itching a few minutes into the practice. And I couldn't keep my eyes from crossing.

I think it was because I am still recovering from being sick.

Tomorrow is another day to attempt to have a good practice though.

The Hidden Weight.

I am feeling so much better today that I actually got up to go meet The Trainer for our regularly scheduled session at 5:30am.

Before we began our workout, I explained to him that I was recovering from an illness. I figured he would be a little kind today.

Boy was I eff-ing wrong.

After our quick warm-up, he brought out a tall step and two kettle bell weights. He explained that I was to do 12 squats with the kettle bells. Then I was to do 12 step-ups in each leg, with the kettle bells in my hands. After that, I was to do 12 reverse lunges on each leg using the step, and without the weights.

I went to go pick up the kettle bells, which read "12" on the sides. I nearly fell over. I wobbled a little from side to side.

"These are heavy!" I thought to myself. "I must have really gotten weak in the past few days!"

I didn't say anything to The Trainer. I just did my squats. Then came time for the step-ups...

I got my foot up on the step and went to lift my body up using the stepped leg. It took a lot of wobbling for me to keep my balance. It felt like I was lifting a lot more than 24 pounds in total.

"You only have to do 10 of these on each leg," The Trainer informed me.

After I got done with my first set of everything, The Trainer went and grabbed the 15-pound free weights.

"You're going to use these for your step-ups now," he said. "And you'll use the kettle bells for your squats."

"But those are 15s," I said. "And the others are 12s. These are heavier."

He laughed.

He then informed me that the kettle bells were metric. So even though it read "12" on them, they were actually about 26 pounds each.

"You had me stepping up with 52 pounds?" I asked.

He laughed.

"I told you things were going to get harder," he said. "But the kettle bells were overkill. Last time you did these, you didn't use weights. So we'll start you out on the 15s."

I never gave any thought to how much each kettle bell weighs. I never use them on my own. Sneaky hidden metric weight!

How To Treat Honeymooner's Disease.

I've discovered an incredibly helpful elixir for battling a UTI...



Lemon Tea!

It's a teapot filled with one whole lemon (sectioned and squeezed) as well as one lemon teabag, and boiling water filled to the top.

According to eHow, vitamin C helps "acidify" things. So bacteria gets killed and rebalanced. I started to feel better very shortly after drinking it. I've also been downing pure cranberry juice (as in 100% cranberry juice - which is very, very TART) and water. But the lemon tea is the one thing that really helped right away.

It's also best to stay away from starchy foods, alcohol, sugar and caffeine till things clear up.

Hope this info comes in handy, should you ever have the horrible pleasure of getting a UTI*.

*And for the record, people... UTIs are very common in women. In fact, most women get them every few years. They are NOT just an occurrence for women with "dirty hoo-haws," as one jack ass wrote in and commented. In fact, women mostly get them from having too much sex... Which is also called "Honeymooner's Disease." AND, often pregnant women get them too.

The Fairytale I Will Tell Any Children I Ever Care For...

My friend Bon-Fier sent this to me a few minutes ago. Sorry if you've read it before... But I find it HILARIOUS...

Once upon a time, in a land far away, a beautiful, independent, self-assured princess, happened upon a frog as she sat contemplating ecological issues on the shores of an unpolluted pond in a verdant meadow near her castle.

The frog hopped into the princess' lap and said:

"Elegant Lady, I was once a handsome prince, until an evil witch cast a spell upon me.

One kiss from you, however, and I will turn back into the dapper, young prince that I am and then, my sweet, we can marry...

and set up housekeeping in your castle with my mother...

where you can prepare my meals...

clean my clothes...

bear my children...

and forever feel grateful and happy doing so."

That night, as the princess dined sumptuously on lightly sautéed frog legs seasoned in a white wine and onion cream sauce, she chuckled and thought to herself:

"I don't fucking think so."

Fall 2008 Trends: I'm Liking What I See...

Over the past few weekends, I've managed to bury my head in dozens of August and Special issues* of magazines. I've even spent some time scouring the Internet looking for information on what's going to be big for Fall/Winter this year. In total, I've probably managed to devout about 20 hours of research to the Fall trends... And the September issues (which are typically the big, fat issues each year) haven't come out yet.

So, based on my research of cross-referencing all these sources, here are the big trends for Fall 2008 (so far)...

Black Lace
Lace, specifically black lace, is incredibly sexy. I love it. It's not always appropriate to wear a full lace outfit... But working the trend into pieces in a small way, with little touches, is very sweet.




Juicy Berries
Both Harper's and Net-a-Porter referred to this trend as "Berry." It refers to "fruit-hued" colors in clothing... Strawberry, Blackberry, Cherry, Blueberry, Raspberry and Cranberry, etc...

I personally think the best way to rock this look is with accessories. So bags and SHOES!






Florals
I'm not a big fan of florals. They scream "Laura Ashley" to me. And I am transported back to the late 1980s/early 1990s when they were very cool. So I doubt this trend is something I will catch on to. But apparently they are all the rage, as I have seen a few lines already displaying them. (Most notably, the MNG store in the Prudential Center. So far, I'm not loving the store.)

What I am partial to, though, is this cute floral top from J. Crew...



It's a great way to "go floral" without the overkill.


Wide-Leg Trousers & Jeans
This is left over from last season, and I couldn't be happier. Wide-legs just look polished...



I think this trend is a "classic." I will always love it.


Boho
Oh this is probably my most favorite trend of all for the Fall!

I love Boho! I am currently imagining one of the Boho floaty-type dresses with dark tights (black, grey or even blueberry!) underneath with clunky booties.




Country Chic
No... This doesn't refer to "country western." The trend isn't about Wranglers, cowboy hats and Justin's boots... It's more "English Country." Think fur stoles, houndstooth, tweeds, browns, olive greens and natural type colors.





It's so not my personal style... And I think it's a little too sophisticated for me (plus, I would never wear fur)... But it's a lovely look. Very rich.


Tuxedo Jackets
I've seen these mostly styled with skinny jeans underneath, but they do look quite chic still.

Reminds me of the early 90s when blazers and jeans were all the rage, thanks to 90210. My sophomore year in high school, I had a green plaid blazer that I LOVED and wore as often as possible. With the sleeves rolled up, of course, to give it that "casual" look. I now have a black velvet Tuxedo-type jacket that I picked up at the GAP four years ago...



And I am looking forward to busting it out again this season. (And yes, I know it needs to be cleaned and dusted!)


*Sources
Net-A-Porter (Online Magazine)
Elle (August 2008)
British Vogue (August 2008)
Allure (August 2008)
InStyle Makeover Issue (Fall 2008)
Harper's Bazaar (August 2008)
Tatler (August 2008) Vogue (August 2008)
InStyle (August 2008)
Harper's Bazaar Runway Report (Special Issue)

Current Craving: Lots Of Booties.

It's only a few days into August, and already I am craving Fall clothes. And this Fall/Winter, I'm all about the bootie. No, not my bum, I'm talking about shoes!

Here are a two of my favorites so far...

Christian Louboutin Hidden Platform Bootie



Manolo Blahnik Slingback Bootie



There's still a month and a half till I get around to doing my Fall shopping, but this is one trend I definitely plan to get in on... Even if I don't end up with one of the two options above.