Bikram Yoga - Metric Style.

So, I quietly began another 30-day Bikram yoga challenge yesterday. I say "quietly" because now that I have done a 60-day challenge, I really don't need to broadcast when I do a 30-day. Plus, I've now done six 30-day challenges. So there is no need to blog every day when in the challenge.

I am a "pro" at the 30-day challenge.

Anyway... I like to regularly take the Tuesday 6pm class, even when I am not doing a challenge. It is taught by a young new-ish teacher who has really found her voice when it comes to teaching. She has wonderful energy, doesn't mess around, and really pushes us.

"I want to see you all coming in and out of the postures together tonight," she said at the start of class. "No coming into them late. You fall out, you get right back in."

I am used to her commands and her cadence now, having had her for a few weeks. But one thing that she does that still throws me off...

She uses the metric system.

Now, I know I am in Canada now... And they prefer that "metric system thingie." But I still have a hard time comprehending the calculations... Kilometers... Celsius... Centimeters...

And it's that last one which gets thrown around in a Bikram class with this teacher.

"Separate your feet 15 centimeters, like the letter 'H'," she says.

"What?" I think. "What the fuck is a centimeter? Don't you mean separate them six inches?"

Because that is how Bikram teaches it, people. And that is how they taught it in Amsterdam and Melbourne, when I took classes there earlier this year.

I have been practicing nearly five years now, so of course it doesn't really throw me off to hear her say this. I know the dialogue. I know what the space between my feet and knees is supposed to be...

But the whole "metric system thingie" is something that will take a long time to adapt to. In and out of the Bikram studio.

Healthy Dish For The Weak: Butternut Squash & Apple Soup.

It's still far too warm in Toronto to really be Fall. Temperatures lately have been hanging around in the 70s. That is Spring weather, Fall.

But to get myself in the mood for the crisping season, I decided to make a new soup today. A Fall soup... The Barefoot Contessa's Butternut Squash and Apple Soup.

It turned out exactly how it is supposed to!

Yum!

It was a very easy soup to make. And with the exception of a little butter, it's a very healthy vegetarian soup. Cheap to make too... If you already have a food mill, which I did not. But I needed to buy one anyway. (Thanksgiving is in two weeks here in Canada, and I will need one to make mashed potatoes.)

Cranberry Pineapple Juice.

Ew... Cranberry juice. Does anyone really ever like it?

And no, I'm not talking about cranberry juice cocktail... Which is what you usually see stocked on the shelves of grocery stores. Or cranberry juice mixtures... Which are blended with other juices and concentrates, and loaded with sugar. And I am not talking about cranberry juice and vodka drinks...

I am talking pure, 100% unsweetened cranberry juice. Have you ever tried it? It's TART! And tough to get down. But it is so, so, so very good for you.

Possible benefits of cranberry juice:

• Helps fight heart disease
• Helps with dental plaque build-up o your teeth
• Great for the immune system
• Effective against urinary tract infections

It is so good for you, but so hard to drink down. But I have found one way to get my daily intake of the rouge fruit...

Mix it with 100% pineapple juice!

Yum!

Pineapple juice has many great benefits to your body too, which means you should drink more often as well.

Benefits:

• Vitamin intake - Lots of C and B1 in there!
• Manganese - A mineral your body needs for brain and nerve function.
• Helps with clearing up mucus, which means you should reach for it when you are sick with a cold.
• Also helps with painful periods.

I am not much of a medicine gal. I don't take over-the-counter pills. I don't like visiting the doctor unless it is absolutely necessary. I like to get the nutrients my body needs from the food I eat. The only exception I make with this is a DHA liquid supplement that I take daily, which gives me the Omega-3 fatty acids that I need.

The ratio I use for the juice is 40% pure unsweetened cranberry juice and 60% pure pineapple juice. It is wonderful and easy to drink.

Blyss Salon In Yorkville.

Canada is a "low-pressure" country when it comes to customer service. And I like that.

See, in the states (mostly Boston - not so much NYC) when you go to get your "hairs did" at a salon, they put the pressure on you...

• I recommend you use these products which we make and sell exclusively here, and have been featured in Allure magazine.
• How about we do a gloss treatment on-top of the color today? It'll help protect it.
• We really need you to come in in about six weeks to get your hair cut. Let's get you set up in the schedule now for then. You gotta stay on top of those split-ends!
• Your color will fade out in about eight weeks. Let's get you set up in the schedule now for then. You gotta stay on top of those grays!

Don't get me wrong. I really liked the place I went to in Boston for my hair. But they were very pricey. (A cut and a color would run me about $300 - including the tip - every three months.) And I really didn't like the fact that I would spend so much on the service for my hair, and then turn around and be bombarded with what were essentially requests for more dollars out of my pocket.

Let me tell you... Canada, so far, has been nothing like that.

I went to get my hair done (cut and color) for the first time in six months. I have colored my hair on my own using a fab product from Sephora. But since I was getting it cut today, I decided to get it colored professionally too.

I went from this out-of-control long-thick-wavy mess...

To soft Blair Waldorf-esque long hair...

And it cost me HALF of what I paid in Boston. And that was with me going to a salon in the chi-chi part of town, just like when I lived in Boston.

The colorist and stylist both did a phenomenal job. They were much more genuine in the delivery of their advice for my hair. The colorist couldn't believe I had so much gray...

"You're way too young to have this much!" she said.

I didn't want to tell her I was probably older than she realized... As I tend to look younger (in the face) than my 32-years. It's called, "Don't have kids. And don't be too thin."

The stylist told me right off that she loved my natural wave.

"But you need fewer layers in it," she informed me. "The longer your hair is, the less the curl will frizz and it will lay closer to your head."

At the end of my appointment, no one tried to guilt me into making another appointment in the too-near future. No one tried to pitch me any products, even though they sell them there. No one was fake.

I liked that. And I liked that it wasn't a huge chunk of my paycheck that I had to fork over.

Blu-U Therapy.

Oh what a vain woman won't do to get rid of acne as the result of hormones gone bad from fertility treatments!

Actually, I wouldn't know what that vain woman WOULDN'T do, as I am doing everything I can to resolve a condition I have been living with for the past TWO years... (Which as I mentioned, is a result of unnecessary fertility treatments from aggressive doctors in Boston.)

I have tried everything-under-the-Sun... Including sitting in the Sun, as I heard that can help with acne... But nothing has worked. What have I tried?

• Acupuncture
• Honey & Cinnamon (Works well on non-hormonal acne. Very well.)
• Microdermafusion
• Peels
• Cool laser therapy (Worked well, but not permanent.)
• Regular facials
• Diet changes
• Prescription topical solutions
• Antibiotics (Worked, but who wants to take a pill every day?)
• Orthocept (Ditto the above.)
• Over-the-counter stuff (What a joke!)
• Proactiv (WHAT AN EVEN BIGGER JOKE! MADE THINGS WORSE!)
• Ultrasonic Therapy (Worked, but not long-term.)

So what am I up to now? Well, laser therapy.

I mentioned it a few weeks back. And tonight was my second treatment with the doc. They washed my face and then stuck me in a chair with a contraption that folded-over. It was a blue light... The Blu-U light...

That's me sitting under the Blu-U light. Yes, I had to wear goggles to protect my eyes. Hotness, no?

I am alternating treatments of Blu-U with Photo Rejuvenation every three weeks. After the last session, I noticed a change in the type of acne I was seeing. And the pores around my nose shrunk. Immediately after today's session, my skin was very tight and dry. With either session though, I had no pain and there wasn't any down-time.

We will see what this treatment does. I still have four total treatments left to do over the next few months. Fingers crossed that this hormonal mess on my face goes away!

How To Know What To Eat.

A friend of mine from my NYC days posted interesting facts about food on her Facebook page. She didn't write the facts herself, she just found them insightful. She is a psychotherapist and holistic nutritionist - which I think is very cool. Her website, Three Sisters Nutrition, is a valuable resource, and I wanted to make sure I shared it with you guys.

Here are the facts about food I referenced...

How To Know What To Eat

A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye... And YES, science now shows carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.

A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart has four chambers and is red. All of the research shows tomatoes are loaded with lycopine and are indeed pure heart and blood food.

Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food.

A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds on the nut are just like the neo-cortex. We now know walnuts help develop more than three (3) dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.

Kidney Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys.

Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and many more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet, the body pulls it from the bones, thus making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the body.

Avocados, Eggplant and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats one avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight, and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? It takes exactly nine (9) months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).

Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm as well to overcome male sterility.

Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics.

Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries

Oranges,Grapefruits, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts.

Onions look like the body's cells. Today's research shows onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells. They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes. A working companion, Garlic, also helps eliminate waste materials and dangerous free radicals from the body.

High Heel Harm: The Only Harm Is Gonna Be When I Kick Your Face In With Them, Asshole.

I came across this article today on MSNBC, "Do high heels empower or oppress women?"

According to one view from the article, "When women wear high heels at work, they send sexual signals that should be avoided if they want to be taken seriously."

Bitch! Say WHAT?!?!

And guess what? That little piece of BULLSHIT was mumbled from the lips of one Dr. Helen Fisher an anthropology professor at Rutgers University. A woman. A woman who clearly has an axe to grind against woman who like wearing (what tend to be) rather feminine pieces. Like fashionable skirts. Gorgeous and flattering blouses. And, yes, HIGH HEELS.

I guess I should cut Dr. Fisher some slack though... She is a professor of studying societies and their fucked up and neanderthal mentality. But I disagree with her completely...

HIGH HEELS DO NOT NEED TO BE AVOIDED... Unless they cause you pain to wear. But please, ladies (and men who like to wear them too), don't avoid them just because you are afraid what others in the work place think. FUCK THEM. If they have a problem with your shoes, you tell them they are going to have a bigger problem with you lawyer when you sue their asses for sexual discrimination.

I find it offensive that people would think a woman wearing high heels (even - GASP - stillettos!) at work is a woman intending to put forth only her sexuality. IF YOU THINK OF SEX WHEN YOU SEE ME WALKING AROUND IN HIGH HEELS... THAT IS YOUR FUCKING PROBLEM, NOT MINE.

True story:

The last agency I worked at had a "certain bitch" working in a certain position. This bitch had the nerve to pull me aside one day and tell me that a person who reported into me was "dressing inappropriately" for work. Apparently, they had a problem that with her beautiful to-the-knee skirts and sweaters that showed no cleavage.

"So what was the problem?" you ask?

Well, this team member of mine was a petite girl. A beautiful petite girl who happened to have naturally big breasts. She never once flaunted them. She never once at work showed cleavage. She was ALWAYS stylish and professional with her outfits. Not like this "certain bitch" who would wear jeans and flip flops every day to work. (Though, I can't bitch too much. I wore that too there.) Point is, the team member was being picked on because the HR - oops! - I mean "certain bitch" had an issue with her breasts. Sure, guys in the office gawked after my poor team member. But short of having her breasts cut off, what the hell was she supposed to do?

I swear, it was like junior high all over again. "So-and-so is prettier (and younger) than me. All the guys like her! Let's bully her and see if we can make her cry!"

So, when the "certain bitch" told me I needed to talk to my team member, I told her, "No."

"Until you make a dress code for EVERYONE and tell EVERYONE what they can and can not wear, you have absolutely no justification to speak to my team member about this. In fact, it is sexual discrimination. And I won't hesitate to point that out to her."

Let's just say, from that point on, I was REALLY not liked within the company.

I don't deny I am a bitch when I see pure evil trying to be done in society. And telling women, "high heels make you look whore-y and unserious in the workplace," is pure evil.

And not "evil" like, "Wicked Witch of the West"... No, that's "pedestrian" evil. We're talking "Heathers" evil.

Rant done. Thank you.

And THAT'S Why You Don't Wear Jewelry In Bikram.

There is a golden rule when you practice Bikram. Well, there are many. But one rule that studios post on their websites is:

Don't wear jewelry in class.

You're sweating. You're pulling, compressing and stretching body parts. Sometimes your hands are under your feet. Sometimes your chin is shoved into the top of your chest. You don't want jewelry getting sweat on and possibly damaged while in class.

Rings... Watches... Necklaces... Dangling earrings... And especially bracelets, which were the cause of a commotion this evening.

It was brutal class tonight. Just brutal. The heat was still going strong from the 4pm class. And since that was a full class, there was plenty of "juicy" energy in the room when we entered for the 6pm class. I was in a full sweat before class even began, just form sitting on my mat and towel.

"Think of the excellent exfoliation you are getting," I told myself.

After a few minutes of sitting in the room, I was able to slide my engagement ring off my finger, and place it at the top of my mat. My wedding band is thin enough that it doesn't cause me any kind of limitation in the poses. But the engagement ring has to come off the finger. It would be cutting into my skin in no time.

So I guess what I am trying to point out is that I get how precious jewelry is. I don't wear much of it. But what I do have is precious to me. And my engagement ring is probably the most precious item I own. Even more precious to me than my wedding band. Because The Husband picked out the engagement stone and setting all by himself. Whereas I picked out my band. So I, of course, will not leave my ring in my bag in the locker room.

I bring it with me into class, and I slip it off and place it at the top of my mat. It sits there like a beacon through class... And so I never forget it at the end of class. Before khalpalbhatti breathing even begins, my ring goes back on my finger.

So, if you don't feel safe leaving your jewelry in the locker room, bring it into class with you. But leave it at the top of your mat, where you will not forget it and it will not be a distraction to anyone else.

What you do NOT want to do is wear your beautiful - probably sentimental - bracelets while practicing hot, sweaty Bikram yoga... And have one of them break while you begin the floor series.

As soon as we got through the first few postures on the floor, we all heard it...

"Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!"

The beautiful pearl beads from a bracelet (one of many) another girl was wearing broke, and were now bouncing against the dark stained hardwood floor. It was a good thing we weren't in the standing series anymore.

The teacher was very gentle and scooped up the scattered beads from the various spots they had come to rest at on the floor. And she didn't scold the girl who was wearing them. That was nice. Had this been any other studio, I can imagine she would have been pretty well scolded.

But, well, this is Canada. And people are really nice here. Even in the Bikram yoga studios.

I hope the girl was able to recover every bead. I will feel awful if she didn't. This wasn't my first class with her. I have noticed her wearing the stacks and stacks of bracelets in other classes. I know I will see her in another class soon. I hope she at least takes them off an piles them at the top of her mat.

But this is a GREAT example of why we don't wear jewelry in class.

Jo Malone Vanilla Anise: "Smells Like Dr. Pepper!"

Coco Chanel once said, "A woman who doesn't wear perfume has no future."

I wear perfume often. Every day. But I don't go through it quickly. I buy maybe one new bottle a year to add to my collection. I've had one bottle, which is just now running low, for over four years now.

I am a believer that you only need a few spritzes every morning. Not a whole dousing. And I like to layer various scents together, which helps make my scent more unique and means I need to replace the bottles less often at the store.

For the past four years, I have worn one brand of perfume: Jo Malone. They make fabulous scents that you can mix together. Over the years I have purchased Vintage Gardenia, French Lime Blossom, Pomegranate Noir, White Jasmin and Mint, Honeysuckle, and Orange Blossom. Now I am adding to my collection with their latest and greatest...

Vanilla Anise.

Oh it smells so divine!!!

I was at Holt Renfrew on Saturday, attempting to shop for clothes. But despite my best efforts, I found nothing that appealed to me. (Can you imagine such a thing?) So I wandered over into the make-up section on the first floor (after picking up a little gift for my sister, Red, in the accessories department) and began browsing. I was in need of some new bath gels (Orange Blossom) from Jo Malone. When I got to the counter, though, I got distracted by the new scent they had out.

"Let me spray some on you," said the gentleman working the counter.

"Of course, please do," I encouraged him.

I inhaled the scent he spritzed on my wrist.

"Hmm," I took it in. "It smells just like Dr. Pepper!"

He laughed and told me I was not the first person to say the same exact thing.

"Walk around for a few minutes now," he told me. "This is one scent that reacts differently on certain people. For some, the vanilla notes will come out more. For others, the anise scent will be stronger."

I did as I was told. I went an visited the Shoe section again. (I found nothing there.)

When I came back a few minutes later, the anise scent was stronger. And I loved it. I picked up a bottle of that and my bath gel.

I indeed have a future, Madame Chanel!

"You Bet Your Ass They're Dry..."

So, I wrote a few weeks ago about my job and how there's this girl I run into while in the bathroom who washes her hands obsessively for like 10 minutes. Well, I saw her again today.

At first, when I walked into the bathroom, I was relieved to see her. It confirmed for me that I did not imagine her from last time. But then, I was a little anxious... Because I knew I would need to wash my hands in about 30 seconds... And we are down to only one sink in the ladies room.

So, as soon as I needed to use the sink, I just stood there. And she kept swishing her hands under the stream of hot water in the sink. She looked up and smiled at me.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I have very dry hands."

"Um, yeah," I thought to myself. "You wash them for minutes on-end multiple times a day. You bet your ass they're dry."

I smiled and asked her if she needed hand lotion. She declined my offer, even though I have really kick-ass stuff.

About minute later, she finally finished her scrubbing and left the water on so I could easily hop into the stream. Twenty-seconds later,I was done washing my hands. She had decided to leave, though I suspect she may have been considering staying and popping back under the water after I left.

Closet Organizing: A Task That Can Be Loads Of Fun!

I don't know if it is due to the transitioning of the seasons, but I have found many of my friends commenting lately about how they need to purge and organize their closets. I think this kind of project is great for Sunday afternoons.

Here is what you need to begin your closet-cleaning project:

• A bottle of champagne... Or the little mini-bottles of champagne... (Makes cleaning more fun.)
• iPod with speakers (or just set-up your laptop) and a special "closet purging" mix... (Music also makes things more fun.)
• Dust rags... (Shelves, old hangers... Shoes... They'll need dusting if it's been a while.)
• An iron with ironing board... (Unless you have a garment steamer - lucky! You'll want to iron anything that is clean and needs it.)
• A sewing kit. (In case you find a garment that needs a button sewn on quickly.)
• A vacuum cleaner... (For cleaning the bottom of the closet. Or a broom if it isn't carpeted.)

And then you have all you need to get to work!

But you may be wondering how you decide to actually organize things. Here's how I break it down...

• Take all shoes/clothes/bags out.
• Clean the bottom of the closet and any shelves in it.
• Organize the hangers. And for the love of God, please toss out the wire ones. THEY RUIN CLOTHES. My favorite hangers are wooden ones, which you can get for cheap at Bed, Bath & Beyond (in the U.S.) or Home Sense (here in Canada).
• Next, analyze what you always wear versus what you rarely wear, versus what you never wear, versus what you would like to wear more often.
• If there is anything you really don't see yourself ever wearing, for the love of God, just toss it out. (Meaning: Donate to charity.)
• Organize the rest of the shoes (ideally) on shelves. You want to be able to see everything, that way you are less likely to just keep flocking to the same things you always wear/use.

This may not seem very insightful. But I find that pulling everything out of the closet, and then putting it back in piece-by-piece makes it easier for you to see what you actually own and what you need to start wearing more often. Also, it makes it more clear what you need to buy for your wardrobe.

With my recent move, I was able to do a thorough clean-out of what I no longer wear. And with my very own closet in the new house, I was able to do a re-org of how I usually display and place everything in it.

The previous owners were very meticulous. They built in all kinds of fabulous shelves, drawers and hooks into both walk-ins in our bedroom. I have a drawer for all my jewelry that has felt lining in it. And I have hooks for all my necklaces and scarves...

Shelves for my shoes and bags...

And plenty of rack and drawer space for my clothing...

I like to hang out in my closet every week, re-organizing and "plotting" what I intend to wear the next week at work. I think everyone should have a closet like this. Forget having a guest room! Turn it into a "dressing room!" You can easily find things at various stores to help you so this. I suggest:

• The Container Store
• Bed Bath & Beyond
• IKEA
• Home Depot
• Walmart
• Target

Man! I just realized that this is something I should have done to Frogger's spare guest room before I left Boston. It would have been a fun project to document!!!!

True Restaurant In Yorkville.

The Husband and I finally got around to trying a restaurant in our neighborhood. It is located right next to the apartment building we were temporarily staying in before we moved into the house. It's a healthy/organic restaurant called True.

I don't know why we hadn't gotten around to eating there in our first four months, but once I sat down and looked at the menu, I knew that I would be going back. It is the perfect place to eat for people with a variety of dietary needs. Vegetarian? Vegan? Gluten-free/wheat allergies? Meat lover? They got it all covered at this place.

Here's a look at what we feasted on this evening...

Bruschetta...

My dinner... Miso cod with brown rice risotto and veggies.

Hmm... Fancy squash...

And... This is what The Husband had...

A "sodium bomb," as I called it. Sausage. Salty cheese. Various crispy pork pieces. It was delicious (not as good as my cod and veggies), but it was probably the least healthy thing on the menu

Next time we go, he promised to try something besides pizza.

Cough Into Your Sleeve? Um, Don't Think So!

If you read here often, you would know I like fashion. You would also know that I do Bikram yoga to stay healthy and prevent illness. I protect my clothes and my body. I fight off illness, and try to look put-together while doing it. And since I love my clothes so much, why would I want to ruin them by getting sick and then coughing/sneezing into my sleeve?

Don't know what I am talking about? Well then you haven't ridden the subways or seen these posters out in public yet..

Rather than covering your mouth or nose with your hands when you cough or sneeze, the CDC is recommending we all use our sleeved elbows. Now, I am all for preventing the spread of the flu this season... But I am NOT a fan of ruining my clothing.

What if I had food in my mouth when I coughed or sneezed? My top would then be ruined. Not cool!!! I recommend everyone start carrying around a handkerchief again. Always be prepared and have it easily accessible to pull out for use.

Let's be respectful of those around us and of our clothes!

"I Don't Really Like This Music..."

So... I know I haven't written a lot about my new jobbie-thingie. It seems like back when I was working for my last company, I had funny things to note every week.

Well, this job is different.

Oh, don't get me wrong. There are plenty of funny people there. I just don't happen to sit next to them. Nope, unlike the open plan at my last job (where everyone sat at desks with laptops) this company has me sitting in an office.

Yes. I have finally navigated my way back into an office.

When I started my professional career 10 years ago, I had my own office. I was working in TV news, and I was in a big office by myself. I even had a TV in there that had a live feed of whatever was on the air. I got hooked on Martha Stewart Living, Days of Our Lives, Passions... As I worked for an NBC affiliate. I hated being in an office then because I felt "out of the loop." After I left that job and moved to NYC, it was "desk city" for me from then on. Occasionally I would get a whole cubicle to myself, but never an office. And now, I am back in one.

I guess I am all grown up?

Anyhow, my point is: I don't sit near the funny people. (Funny-looking... Funny-personality... Fun-to-make-fun-of...) Or so I thought.

I was in my office this afternoon when my my boss (who I like to call "El Jefe" - which is Spanish for "The Chief") started playing some music from his laptop. At first it was just background noise. I didn't really pay attention to it. But then I started to recognize it, and it made me cringe...

It was "Rico Suave."

"Eww!" I thought. I then hopped into a chat window and made both Bail and Frogger (Boston friends) aware of my situation.

"My boss is playing 'Rico Suave' on his computer," I told them. "And I don't know if he is doing it because he actually likes the song, or if he is trying to be funny and get a reaction out of me."

They both found my situation fascinating. Even more so when the song that came on after "Rico..." was Kriss Kross's "Jump!"

"The daddy-mac 'll make ya jump-jump!" I typed to them.

They were really hoping it was his taste in music, so that I would have something quirky to write about my El Jefe, like I used to with Mr. Sports (my previous boss).

A few minutes later, as Haddaway's "Baby Don't Hurt Me" began to emit from his machine, he yelled from his office into mine that the music I was hearing was from a funny mix he had downloaded out of curiosity.

Allegedly, he had heard "Rico Suave" played on a talk radio station he listens to as he drives to work in the mornings. They played a piece of it and discussed how it was the "worst song ever written." When he got into work, he researched the song online. He found a list that said, "If you like this song, you'll like all these others too."

And that is how he allegedly came up with his playlist for work today.

I don't know if I believe him.

Tea Party: Man, These People Are Fucking Dumb.

I... just... do... not... know... what... to... say...

The Shaman Says, "You Dream In Spanish."

Last night's dream...

I am walking around at some kind of gathering. There is a Shaman (a medium) there. He is talking to people. He comes up to me and puts his hand on my forehead, because apparently that is how he reads your subconscious. He laughs.

"You dream in Spanish," he says. "Interesting."

And that is all I can recall from the dream.

In dreams, Shamans represent "wisdom" and "superior knowledge." Because they are messengers in real life, they represent the same thing in dreams. A communication between your subconsciousness and your waking life.

Foreign languages are your mind's way of telling you that you "do not understand" something yet.

To reference "dreams" within a dream represents something with your emotional state.

So, my dream is telling me that my mind has some wisdom to share with me about my emotions that I am not understanding?

Well, duh! Isn't that what dreams are always about?

Gym Etiquette: Weight-Dropping... Really Necessary?

I am not an anal person. I can tolerate a lot. I don't let the little things (usually) get to me. But when it comes to the gym, there are certain things that bother the crap out of me...

• Talking on your cell phone while working out. I get it - some people's iPods are also their phones, so they have to bring them on the floor. Fine. But turn your freaking phone off and disconnect for an hour. That's right. You read that correctly. The woman who refuses to vacation any place that doesn't have WiFi said, "disconnect for an hour." No one wants to hear you obnoxious dribble. And no, we can't just turn our iPods up louder... Because (one) it could cause hearing damage and (two) because it wouldn't do any good. You are, in fact, that loud.
• Wipe the freaking equipment down after you use it. Don't want to use the disinfecting spray? Fine. But at least take the free towel the gym provided to you and wipe your sweat away. No one should have to have to deal with cleaning up someone else's puddle.
• No loud moaning. I've had to deal with other gym go-ers at 6am moaning like they were having sex in a gay porno. It's kinda funny and kind icky. If you must grunt when you lift weights or do pull-ups, do it softly. I should have to shower after a workout because I was working hard, not because I feel dirty from getting worked over by your moans and groans.
• Put the weights back where they go. This means, "If the free weights you are using are 15-pounds, you put them back on the marker that reads, '15 pounds.'" No one should have to go hunting around for the weights they want when a system of labeling is established and easy to follow. And speaking of weights...
• Is it really eff-ing necessary for you to drop the weights on the floor, or slam them down when using the machines? Seriously, jack ass, if you HAVE to drop the weights or slam them down... Guess what? THEY'RE TOO FUCKING HEAVY FOR YOU! Lighten the hell up! You should be handling weights that, yes, challenge you... But you should be able to use your strength to PLACE THEM DOWN GENTLY! Otherwise, use a spotter to assist you with your workout.

That's it. For now. I reserve the right to bitch about this topic again in the near future. Anyone else have any gym pet peeves?

The Gospel According To Coco Chanel.

I am a sucker for a good book.

And by "good book" I mean one that comes from a table like this at your local chain bookstore...

Fashion art books? Female-oriented self-help books? Books about shopping and fashion?

It's like they created this table just for me!

SQUEE!

(Sad? Maybe. But "eff you" if you think that.)

Anyhow... I found a new book to pick up on this exact table this evening. And it is one that I had read about a few weeks back...

The Gospel According To Coco Chanel.

It's a look at Coco Chanel's life, interwoven with a crash course on style. My favorite parts are the quote from Chanel herself...

• "Don't spend time beating on a wall, hoping to transform it into a door."
• "Gentleness doesn't get work done, unless you happen to a hen laying eggs."
• "The answer isn't to climb down but to rise higher."
• "How many cares one loses when one decides not to be something but to be someone."
• "The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud."

Really, this all sounds like a lesson on how to be a bitch. A fashionable bitch, though.

Nostalgia: Debbie Gibson's "Electric Youth" Perfume.

My first foray into perfumes as a child was with my Tinkerbell collection my Mum bought me one day while at a department store. It didn't smell particularly good, but as a little seven year old, I loved the idea of dabbing on a scent and feeling grown up.

I was only ever allowed to wear it at home, though. Never out in public.

By the time I was 12, I was yearning for all kinds of mature things:

• Make-up (Had to wait till I was in 8th grade for that! And even then, I wasn't allowed to wear eyeliner or mascara!)...
• Dating (Had to wait till high school)...
• A job (By law, this had to wait till I was 16)...

But even though I had to wait on all the above things, I was allowed to wear perfume at 12. Every day, if I wanted. And my perfume of choice was Debbie Gibson's "Electric Youth."

I am not sure if Debbie Gibson is ever given credit for helping advance the "celebrity fragrance" movement. The only other "celebrity-created" fragrance I can think of prior to this is anything by Elizabeth Taylor.

"Electric Youth" was perfect for a "tweener." It had a tutti-frutti smell to it, and the liquid was hot pink. And in middle school, we liked to douse ourselves with this stuff. You could easily identify its notes as someone walked past you in the halls between classes.

But the popularity of it came and went very quickly. It died along with Debbie's second album, also titled "Electric Youth." And "lost" to history, it was.

I would love to get my hands on a bottle today. I would wear it, just for fun! Would you?

Autumn Staples.

It is still gloriously beautiful outside. I know many people in this part of North America feel like we were cheated out of Summer... But really, I enjoyed the weather immensely. It has been mostly sunny and in the mid-70s since late June. But now I realize that Fall is just around the corner up here in Canada. And that means it is time to think about my Autumn Staples.

Some people like to stick up for cold weather by purchasing bread, potatoes, meats, pastas, etc... I like to stock up by buying coffee and clothes. So here are the type of things I am looking to scoop up over the next few weeks to get me through till January. (Which is when I will have to deal with Winter.)

OTK Riding Boots

OTK is short for "Over-The-Knee." I prefer riding boots that come close to, if not just over, the knee. I hate when boots cut you off mid-calf. It often makes your calves look bigger than they actually are.

Ballet Flats

I bought mine last weekend, in black. But I am very close to going back and picking up a pair in "Grapewine." I love them. They look great with tights too.

TIGHTS! AND LEGGINGS!

Ugh... Okay, I know I dissed American Apparel over Twitter a few weeks back. But they are a great place to pick up leggings and tights. Black leggings under dresses are huge right now. It's like it's 1986 and I am back in fourth grade... Rocking the leggings under huge sweatshirts and miniskirts. (I also wore a side ponytail a lot. Perhaps I should consider that too?... No? Well, screw you and your opinion any damn way!)

Skinny Jeans

If you are not already following Jean Therapy on Twitter, you should be. The owner Tweeted a very generous 25% off discount code last week - which was good for only the first 10 people - and I snagged myself a pair of Raven Denim Remy Skinny Jeans in Koop Indigo. They are fabulous and will look amazing tucked into the riding boots or with flats. Shit, I could even wear platforms with these. Despite my opposition to them a few years ago, skinny jeans are incredibly versatile. And you can't let the fact that you have a bum and curves sway you from considering skinny jeans. When styled appropriately, they look great on nearly everyone, not just those with thighs that don't touch.

White Blouse

I love white blouses. I wear them weekly. Right now, I won three. All are short-sleeved. They are perfect for the "Androgyness Chic"/"Masculin Feminin" look I have loved for the past few years. They can be vampy and sexy, unbuttoned with a cami showing form the top. Or, they can be paired with a dorky sweater vest-which is a look I wear very often. And let's not forget that they are amazing under suit jackets. My most recent one was purchased at Jacob, an inexpensive trendy store here in Toronto.

Wellies

I bought my Hunter Wellies last Winter for a killer $53 from the Tannery on Boylston (in Boston). At the recommendation of Yummy Mummy, I also picked up wellie-socks. Rain, snow, slush... These are perfect for that. Forget about Uggs. They protect you from nothing. And your feet will end up soaking form all the water that seeps into them, as they are not water-proof. (Unless you spend a good amount of time spraying them with the water-proofing spray.)

Cashmere, Dahling!

I don't know why this is.... But I just seem to be obsessed with ruffles lately. And J. Crew has these ruffled v-neck cashmere sweaters, which are PERFECT for Fall and Spring.

I have my eyes on a few other things too. But for now, these are the things I am going to be using this Autumn.

Driving Backwards.

I love analyzing dreams. My own, or the ones of others. I believe your body sends you messages about what it is going through in your dreams. I've written about my own dreams many times in the past. Usually I can easily guess what my body is trying to tell me. But right now, I am confused.

I had a dream that I don't understand.

I am in a car. I am backing it out of the garage and turning right, so that I can drive off wherever it is I am wanting to go. But instead of breaking and moving the car from "Reverse" into "Drive," I keep going backwards. Fast.

I can't seem to get my foot to the break so that I can switch gears. I am trying to reach my leg down to press on the brake, but my leg is pinned by the wheel and dashboard right where it is. And I can only reach the gas.

I think about allowing myself to run into a house or building with the car, just to get it to stop.

Then, I woke up.

Obviously, as I have dissected for many people in the past, dreams about driving represent you on your current path in life. If you are the one doing the driving, you are the one in control of your life.

Dreams about going in reverse (or "backwards") represent setbacks and counter-productivity.

Brakes in dreams represent the ability to "slow down"... But since I can't seem to reach them in the dream, I can't slow down.

I don't understand what my mind is trying to tell me. I'm steering my life in a way that is counter-productive? If anything, my life seems to be more productive than it has been in a really long time.

If I'm not supposed to be here, where am I supposed to be?

Excitement Over TIFF.

The neighborhood The Husband and I moved to here in Toronto is in a part of town that has some nice hotels in it. So nice they are that a lot of celebrities stay at them during the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF).

The streets around us are crowded with teeny boppers, paparazzi and celebrity watchers. And this is all just a block and a half away from us. But our street is removed from the main "drag" where the hotels are. We are tucked into a street off the main one, and we usually don't get a lot of traffic going down our one-way street... Till tonight.

There are a lot of stragglers walking down our street tonight. I was up in my office working on some things when I heard a loud crowd outside cheering. I looked out the window to the Italian restaurant down and across our street and saw a number of black SUVs with tinted windows had pulled up outside. Flash bulbs were going off one right after the other and cops were performing crowd control duties.

I went downstairs to get The Husband.

"Someone is eating at Sotto Sotto," I tell him.

"Should we walk outside and see what is going on?" he asked.

"Like duh," I say. "Why do you think I have my shoes on and my iPhone in hand already?"

We walked the maybe 100 feet to the corner and looked across to the crowd. We couldn't see anything. A cop car pulled up and parked right in front of us. The police officer got out and asked us if we wanted to take his picture.

I laughed.

"No," I said. "But who is it that is over there right now?" He had obviously been called in for extra security.

"It's a famous woman," he smiled.

I give him a dirty look. That's when the woman next to me speaks up.

"Is it Oprah?" she asks.

The cop just smiled. Then he quietly nodded and crossed the street.

"Cool!" I said to The Husband. "Let's walk around the block to the hotels and see if any other stars are coming out to play."

We walked around, but didn't see anyone else this time. Just a large crowd of people hanging out in front of The Hazelton Hotel and The Four Seasons. Earlier today, though, I did see a few celebrities while walking on the street...

• Brett Ratner
• Michael Moore (large as ever and wearing a red baseball cap)
• Chris Gorham
• Eric McCormack

I hit the 9am Bikram class this morning, hoping I would see some celebs in class. I know a few have already been there to practice this week. Maybe tomorrow?

TIFF will be going on for the next week, so I am sure I will plenty other celebs. Still hoping I see Clooney and Matt Damon.

Fingers crossed....

"She Must Have Some Weird OCD Thing..."

About three weeks ago, I officially started my new job.

Yes, I am back working in the agency world after I swore nearly three years ago that I would never return to it. I believe I said something to the effect of...

"I will fucking work at fucking McDonald's or pan-handle like the Spare Change Guy before I go back to ever working for another fucking agency again."

Well, I am eating my words. I left my last job in January. And I tried doing the following things while on my hiatus:

• Being a non-working wife. (I was so freaking bored. One can only do so much yoga and hanging out at Starbucks to write. And there aren't enough books worth reading. And Daytime TV really sucks.)
• Be a freelance search marketer. (It's just not the same when you are doing it on your own every day. I need an office to go to. I need other people around to bother with inane stuff. And The Husband got tired of me sending him emails all day when I was online working at home.)
• Studying for Bikram Yoga Teacher Training. (I have a copy of the dialogue, even though I am not supposed to - Shh!!. I got through Awkward pose with memorization on my own.)

Honestly, if we had stayed in Boston, I probably could have "hung in there" and been a non-working wife. By the time we moved to Toronto, I had established a pattern and adjusted. I still had all of my friends (working and non-working) to keep up with. I didn't feel left out from the world. But moving to Toronto, that was another thing...

I quickly realized I needed a job. Not so much because the money would come in handy. More because I was new to this city and felt that I wasn't ready to be done with the "power & earning" portion of my life.

"I knew you couldn't stay away," said Mr. Sports, my former boss, when I asked him for a recommendation for my job. "You like doing what you do."

He was right, as were many others who said I would be back to working sooner than I expected. I thought I was done for good, but I was wrong. An opportunity popped up out of nowhere, and within a week of interviewing, I had an offer to return to the agency world.

"It's worth giving it a shot," said The Husband. "This is Canada. It can't be as bad as it was in Boston. Agencies here will probably know what they are doing. And you won't be surrounded by assholes like at the last agency. People here are nicer. Plus, having a career-history in Canada would be wise to establish."

"All very good points," I thought.

So I accepted my offer and started back in August. And I have been busy ever since. It is the main reason why I haven't written much here lately. The work has been going so well and my clients have been so engaged that I am incredibly busy.

And the people I work with? Well, they couldn't be nicer. And some couldn't be funnier. And they are all very dedicated - or so it seems. Doesn't appear to be a terrible ego in the bunch. The location of the office is ideal for me. The hours are good - despite my being so busy. The career path is promising. We even get pizza every other Friday. Oh - and there's a Starbucks right next door. (It's the little things with me.)

Nope. Nothing bothers me about the new job. Except for the chick who I see in the bathroom every afternoon, scrubbing her hands for five minutes with soapy water.

Seriously, who washes their hands for five minutes? She has got to have some weird OCD thing. And very dry hands.

The Wanderlust Friend.

A brief pause in my day to remember my friend whose middle name should have been "Wanderlust"...

Swede & The Missus

Muggs Pub, Williamsburg Brooklyn

January 2001

Can't believe it's been eight years already. You are missed by many.

"What You Need I A Change Of Scenery."

I have quite a few friends who are in a "funk" lately. Some have already figured out how to get out of the funk... Others are still trying to figure it out for themselves. My only recommendation...

"Sometimes a change of location is the best medicine."

It worked for me nine years ago when I was depressed beyond words. I do believe that certain locations can drain your soul. Moving was the best way to find my energy and feed my soul.

Just saying...

"Taking" Back The Studio.

I apologize to all my fellow practitioners in tonight's 6pm Bikram class at the Bloor Street studio. Tonight, I was a "taker." Not a "giver."

As our teacher pointed out in tonight's class, when you come to practice your yoga, "It isn't just about your energy." You utilize the energy from others (taking) and you then push that energy back out (giving) and help create a positive practice for everyone.

How exactly do you do the "giving?" Well...

• You don't fidget.
• You don't play with your yoga costume.
• You don't fix your hair when it comes loose.
• You don't sip water at inappropriate times.
• You don't give up on postures.

I did all of the above... I was purely a "taker" tonight. I sucked up all the energy. I had a pretty good practice. I mean, for someone who hasn't been to the studio in over two weeks and was practicing with regenerating pinky tendon.

I fell out of Standing-Head-to-Knee repeatedly. I gave up in Standing Bow pose and got called out by the teacher for it. ("When you fall backwards, it means you are giving up. If you fall out, you should fall forward.") My shorts kept riding up, and I felt the need to constantly fix them. I made the mistake of putting on lotion before work today, and that made for a really fidgety and slippery Bikram practice. I held off on taking water after Eagle pose, only to charge for my bottle after Balancing Stick.

Also, with the fidgeting... In a few poses I found myself getting a headache. Half Tortoise, Rabbit... Don't know what that was about, but it bothered me.

So, sorry y'all. Sorry for being a "taker." In my next class, on Thursday, I will do my best to balance the "giving" and the "taking."

Assouline Books.

One of my absolute favorite stores to walk through in Toronto is Teatro Verde in Yorkville.

It's a home decor store that has wonderful things to look at... But my favorite is their collection of Assouline books.

Assouline is s publishing house that puts together fashion and life style books. I currently own their Marc Jacobs book. And I am hoping to add to my collection over the next few years.

I've been eyeing the Hitchcock Style book.

Back in university, one of my majors was "Media Arts." It had two "paths" within it... Film or broadcasting. I ultimately went the broadcasting route, but did have to take some film classes for a few semesters. One that I took was "The History of Film Noir." We watched a few Hitchcock pieces, and it was fabulous! It was a sexy and disturbing genre to study. And the femmes in all Hitchcock flims were stylish beauties.

I hope they have it this Fall at Teatro Verde.

Yoga Anatomy.

Based on a partial recommendation from another Bikram yogini, I picked up Yoga Anatomy this week in a book store.

It is an illustrated guide to the most commonly practiced yoga poses. It offers anatomical drawings and information about breathing, the postures and one of my favorite parts...

Yoga and the spine!

The entire second chapter is dedicated to the spine, how it works and an explanation of how yoga helps strengthen and work all the pieces. I enjoyed this chapter because of the reasons I initially began practicing Bikram was because of my creaky back. The muscles that run along my spine are much stronger now then they were five years ago when I began hitting the hot studio.

(Eek! It has been five years already?!?!?!)

The rest of the book is dedicated to the anatomical drawings of various poses.

This is a picture of Eagle Pose. I only recently became able to wrap my leg on each side of this pose. It is helpful to get a closer look at what I am working when tangled up in this pose.

If you have a curiosity about your yoga practice, like me, this book is worth picking up from the store. It is an excellent reference book.

Tory Burch "Reva" Ballerina Flats.

I went shopping this morning.

I haven't been properly shopping since moving to Toronto three and a half months ago. I hadn't had any desire to really go. Or any need for new things. But that changed earlier this week...

I was getting ready for work and wanted to wear flats. Specifically, black flats. But I soon realized that I no longer owned black flats.

"Where have all my work staples gone?" I asked.

Over the past two and half years, my wardrobe grew into a casual work attire rainbow. And that meant that I acquired almost no business-appropriate clothing. I had plenty of fun flats in various colors... But no black ones.

So a few minutes (about 20) of my morning were spent in the shoe department at Holt Renfrew, buying a new version of one of my staples: Tory Burch matte black flats.

Normally, I am not a fan of super-distinctive logos on things I wear. But the TB "Reva" flats are awesome. I bought my first pair a year and a half ago, in silver. And I then picked up a pair of cranberry patent leather ones last Winter for super-duper cheap. I speak from experience and can tell you that they are very comfortable, but that you much go up a whole size to really feel comfy.

And I love that the logo plate and the shoe are the same black leather... There is no contrast with a gold or silver buckle plate - which would seem a bit juvenile on a 32-year old woman.

Photo Rejuvenation From Bellair Laser Clinic.

A few weeks ago, I began exploring options for acne therapy. Specifically, I wanted to laser therapy. I don't have acne so badly that I need to go on Accutane. But for the past few years, I have had annoying occurrences on my skin that have caused me to seek out all kinds of treatments.

I have tried:

• Regular facials
• Chemical peels
• Glycolic peels
• Enzyme peels
• Microdermafusion
• Cool Laser therapy
• Retin-A topicals
• Oral antibiotics

The only things out of the above that worked were the Cool Laser therapy and the oral antibiotics. Everything else just dried out my skin and made the breakouts worse. I hate taking pills, so I decided months back to no longer go with the oral antibiotics. I knew I loved the Cool Laser treatment, but I wanted something more powerful and longer-lasting.

So after some research, I found a spa around the corner that did laser therapy for acne. However, after I called and tried to book an appointment, they informed me that they didn't treat Americans.

"Well, fuck them," I said.

The reviews for them online weren't all that positive anyway. But I know first hand that online reviews can be complete crap. So I had been fully willing to give them a try. But knowing that they are willing to turn down good business, maybe the reviews are right?

Anyhow... I found another local spa that offered the same types of treatments in my neighborhood. And after sitting down with them yesterday, I went in today for my first treatment...

Photo Rejuvenation.

This isn't the typical treatment one gets for acne. It is is usually done on skin that has Sun damage and wrinkles. Acne therapy usually means the Blu-U treatment. But because I have done peels and other treatments in the past that didn't work, they recommended I do a combination of the Photo Rejuvenation and the Blu-U. The Photo Rejuvenation helps regenerate the skin, boosting collagen production and increasing cell-turnover. The Blu-U kills bacteria that leads to acne.

Every three weeks, for the next few months, I will be going in for one or the other.

The only "down time" from either procedure is a slight pinkness to the skin. Though, after today's session, I didn't appear pink at all. I do have to stay out of the direct Sunlight for the next day... But other than that, I appear to be reacting well to the treatment.

Bet you're wondering, "Did it hurt?"

Nope. There was a quick "zap" each time the laser was shot through a section of my skin. And it did make me jump each time... But only because of the sound. It didn't hurt though. And the people at the spa were really nice.

I can't wait to see what kind of effect this treatment has on my skin after a few days!

Easy Guacamole Recipe, Step-By-Step.

The Husband and I had our first visitor in the new house this evening... A friend of his from university. So we decided to do a mini Mexican feast for dinner:

• Grilled steak tacos
• Wine & Beer (not necessarily Mexican...)
• Guacamole (made from scratch, as that is the only way I will allow it to be done near me)

I left the grilling part up to the men. But the guacamole was all mine! I know I have written about how great, easy to make and healthy guacamole is for you in the past. But tonight I decided it would be good to illustrate it with pictures...

Step one: Mash up two ripe avocados in a bowl, squeeze a little lemon juice on them. (This keeps it from turning brown through oxidation.)

Step two: Chop up one plum (sometimes called "Roma") tomato and toss into the bowl.

Step three: Mince a jalapeno, after removing the center and all the little white seeds. Add it to the bowl.

Step four: Chop half a red onion and add that to the bowl.

Step five: Mix everything together and serve with tortilla chips.

Of course, you can add in cilantro too. Not everyone likes the cilantro. So when I make this for guests, I usually omit it.

I've seen cilantro be a very polarizing object for people in the past. I prefer to not tempt things.

Seriously though... Guacamole is the easiest thing in the world to make. And it is healthy!!!

No mixes needed. No mayo. No sour cream.

Just nice, healthy veggies.

Style Icon: Liz Lemon!

A new season is damn near upon us, and that means it is time for a new "Style Icon." Emma Watson was hot inspiration for Summer. But for Fall, I am going very geeky. I am going with Liz Lemon...

Please note, not Tina Fey. Though I love Tina Fey... And I am sure her style is exactly that of Liz Lemon's... But Liz Lemon (the character) has a goofy awkwardness to her that hilariously adds to the style. And I love it!

I know some people may think I am on crack, and that Liz is a "Plain Jane." But really, she is far more representative of most women in the working world. I love the "androgynous chicness" she has... Preppy male-inspired pieces mixed with a feminine touch. And besides, 30 Rock is one of my favorite shows these days... So I have to give Lemon her props!

I think out of all the fashion inspirations I have admired in the past few years, Liz Lemon is the one most representative of my personal style.

The Seasons Of The Starbucks.

Starbucks is right across the street from my building here at work. Just like it was in Boston. And that can mean trouble.

However, I actually have to cross a busy street with a street light to get to it. So it does make it less appealing to go to multiple times a day, like in Boston... Where all I had to do was step 20 feet away from the lobby door, and there it was.

Anyway... I am such a Starbucks fiend that I have now discovered exactly how tuned my body is into the Starbucks season... This morning, September 1st, I woke up at about 5:30am randomly thinking, "Oh I am craving a Pumpkin Spice Latte. It is kinda chilly out, and that means the PSLs will be available soon."

I put the thought out of my head, and went back to sleep for another hour. I woke up, got ready for work, and the headed out the door to get to the subway. On my walk over, I checked my Twitter streams and saw that a friend in Florida had something to say about PSLs...

"Our @Starbucks insider tells us Pumpkin Spice Lattes are now available!!!"

"Holy hell!" I thought. "My subconscious just KNEW these were available! It has been trained for the past seven years and just knows when these are going to be available!"

I, of course, decided to indulge in one this morning.



But I promise, unlike last year, I will only indulge in these treats once a week. But to keep me on track, I will establish the side-bar counter to count each one I have.