FitFlops

So I've already told you that I am absolutely one to fall for gimmicks. Remember that drink Orbitz? I loved it. I believed in that green tea that made you lose weight, that lipgloss that whitened your teeth, and the vitamin that made you smarter. It's no surprise that when I was presented with the FitFlop - I truly believed they would change my life, my legs and my cellulite. And then they did. They actually work. They cost me about $50, and aren't the most post footwear I've ever worn, but that have given my legs the work out they said, and toned me up a wee bit as well. It's a bit like walking on sand, as you have to balance yourself, but you quickly adjust. Friends and lovely boyfriend were surprised to hear "I want to walk there! " right after I got them. But the idea of squeezing in a lazy man's buns of steel while walking The MonChiChi or heading out to make frivolous WalGreens purchases - makes this lady want to walk.

Hub Chic.

And who said we couldn't dress?

Check out Beyond Boston Chic for real pictures, of real Bostonians in all their fashionable glory.

Beyond Boston Chic.

Bacon of the Month

Buying this for the lovely boyfriend might make the best girlfriend in the world. But - I'd probably eat too many slices myself and ask him to buy me bikini boot camp. Read more about how to enrich your man's life, one cholesterol point at a time.

Pug Heaven

Linda Evangelista amidst the wild puggies.

Shot for June 2008 - Vogue Italia.

For My Sister

http://www.parisbreakfasts.blogspot.com/

Longchamp Fall 2008

The making of their shoot in Paris - can't wait for fall bags. I'm hoping for a monogrammed plum longchamp messenger.

Tres Chic!

www.departementfeminin.com

Tres chic, tres chantme french shopping site.

The Dreaded Sunday Night.

This is the best introduction to any book that I have ever read.

Read here if you are a woman in your 20s, 30s, or a man wanting to understand why your girlfriend is freaking out.

Amen sister. Or "girlfriend." Lovely boyfriend noticed that when I talk to girls, or girls in groups, I often say "girlfriend." I think he thought I used it as a serious term - or perhaps as a secret term that we girls use when we're not busy talking about Tampons and David Beckham. I then told him, yes, I say 'girlfriend' because it unifies us in the girlfriend-womanship. Great, now he just thinks I'm crazy.

And speaking of the unity of girlfriend-womanship, we were listening to the radio and alanis morrisette popped up singing 'You Oughta Know." Lovely boyfriend then told me that he thought Alanis sang "the cross eyed bear that you gave to me....you, you you oughta know" He went on to say that it really would be pretty lame to get a cross eyed bear. I laughed so hard I forgot we were driving through Drchster.

earrings

Rings

Productivity.

I went over to the lovely boyfriend's apartment. I stretched out in front of the air conditioner and thought I might cry. What am I supposed to do every day? How am I supposed to feel accomplished? Where the h. did my ambition go and when is it coming back? Of course, there are rational answers to these questions. Of course I will get another job. It is a matter of time and persistence. That, and determining what it is exactly that I want to do. In the mean time... after bitching to the lovely boyfriend for upwards of 20 minutes, he said, "what happened to the f.ing rings?" And he's right. I shouldn't abandon my jewelry. Sometimes it just takes that sort of line coming from someone you love, and a diet coke. So $$$ later, (a great trip to the bead store) I've purchased more beads, wire, gorgeous pendants (including a french stamp!) I'll be taking photos with my digital camera out in the park in a minute, but for now, I'll show you these photos. More to come.

Cure All!

Feeling fat? (Check) Stressed? (Check) Low on Energy (Check!)
Check out this site .... and learn that you get to eat MORE (not less! ) of these foods when you're feeling any of these things!!

http://www.menshealth.com/eatthis/food-fixes/index.php?cm_mmc=Yahoo_Blog-_-ETNT-_-The_6_Worst_Swimsuit_Foods-_-Fix_Anything_With_Food

MyTunes

Ah - Apple ! After a visit to the store tonight, I'm more in love with apple than ever. A smart, great girl helped me pull a disc out my computer, and I picked up a new hard purple cover for my MacBook. I also, of course, tried to play with the I-phone and mentioned "these go on sale for $199 on July 11, right?" to my new friend, smart apple girl. "With a 2 year AT&T contract." Boo.... hisss...
Since we're talking Apple wish list here - I wish for a brand new Ipod with soundtracks for my workouts pre-loaded and an I-tunes library as deep as when I was a 15-year-old music pirating maniac. To celebrate my love, and gratitude for the Itunes Store.. here are a few songs you should absolutely download to beef up that library.

1. Al Green - Love and Happiness. (classic)
2. MGMT - Electric Feel. (new classic)
3. Ani DiFranco - Wishin' and Hopin'.
4. Chris Brown - Forever. (is there a better song for abs workouts?)
5. Marlena Shaw - California Love. (favorite beat.)
6. Robin Thicke - Magic. (I know I'm like the only person that likes this guy)
7. Royksopp - So Easy. (Creepy good.)
8. Royksopp - Remind Me. (Cavemen? ... It was good before that)
9. Sergio Mendes - That Heat (f. Will.I.Am. and Erykah Baduuuu)
10.Shawty Low - Dey Know. (My ghetto anthem.)
11.Spoon - Don't you Evah. (This never gets old for me.)
12.Strokes - Whatever Happened.
13.Tori Amos - Bouncing Off Clouds. (Give it a few listens)
14.Vampire Weekend - Walcott. (Hyannisport IS a ghetto)

More to come.

I want one too!

Ideal Viewer

I know I'm a sucker for a good ad. Make it sound good ? Look good? I'm sold. Michelob Ultra has infiltrated my brain and taken hold inside a little part called the gottadrinkit-thalymus. First I was struck by the ad that detailed the events of a woman's day, which included walking the dog (hey! i do that!), going to the gym (I try to do that! ) and then drinking a beer - but a 95 calorie Michelob Ultra so as not to ruin her efforts of the day. Okay! I'll drink one too! Now they've moved on to some beer that includes fruit flavors. I'm not sure what cactus tastes like - but with this ad campaign, I'm in. Apparently, they're only on sale till Labor Day, so stock up. It's no Boons Farm, but it's worth a try. Read what they suggest for pairings below.


Pomegranate Raspberry: Serve with marinated pork and fresh vegetables. The subtle hint of berry in the beer plays off the tenderness of the meat and the light carbonation brings out the flavors in most grilled vegetables.

Tuscan Orange Grapefruit: Serve with lighter foods such as salads and grilled chicken. The tanginess of grapefruit and clean citrus taste enhances the overall flavor of these dishes.

Lime Cactus: Serve with ethnic fare such as spicy chorizo-based dish or carne asada tacos because the beer balances the dishes' heat and brings out the subtle smokiness. It also pairs well with seafood.

Hug it Out

Sometimes your guy may find it hard to say "please," "thank you," or "your new highlights really look great." And - that's just what he has trouble saying to you! Imagine how hard it is for him to say these things to his boys! These Archewood cards are perfect for the man who can't really convey just how he feels, or doesn't have monogrammed stationary. How would that feel? .. Sick as hell.

Scrubs, Lotions, and Other Products I May Never Find Again

While your boyfriend may be busy watching the Celtics (well, I am too, I just really hone in for the last ten minutes or so) you may be taking a luxurious shower and enjoying all of your favorite products. Deep conditioner, chocolate body scrub, and your favorite razor - and poof - your shower (draining perfectly or not) is suddenly a mini-spa. BUT - tonight I was shocked to find that I am running low on a few of my staple products!

First off - Kelemata Shampoo Alla Menta - my parents brought it back for me from their trip to Italy. They didn't really know what it was - but I am always eager to try European haircare products. This stuff is AMAZING. Not only has it made my hair much much better, it makes it so for 24 hours + ! Now, I'm running out, as I do with most things, much too fast. I can't find it anywhere, anywhere in English that is. If it were a french product maybe I'd have some luck translating the sites, but no luck with the Italian. HELP. This stuff is probably 5 Euro across the pond, but now I'll have to shell out for some Kerastase stateside that won't come close to doing the job.

Next up - another Italian product I most likely will never find again. It's called... "Crio - Impacco, Intensivo AntiCellulite - azione ultra rapida "effetto freddo" " So you probably couldn't read much of that except for the Cellulite. Yes, cellulite cream. And it's not just anything, it freezes your legs for at least an hour and has a smell of mint. And this stuff really works. Sorry to my male readers, who are living in a bubble thinking most women don't obsess about their cellulite. Kim Kardassssian has it. Now, use this Crio - Impacco, and follow up with some Nivea Good-bye Cellulite cream ... and you're one step closer to actually liking shorts. On second thought... no wait.. that's never going to happen for me.


Here's something I am using, that is working, that I can ultimately run out of and then find at the Walgreen's around the corner. Neutrogena Advanced Solutions - Skin polishing acne cleanser, complete with the day and night cream is really doing the trick. I've tried every cleanser there is on the Walgreen's wall and a few pricey items from Bloomingdale's and the like. For a girl like me, with troublesome summer skin, this is really working. They claim it works faster than ProActiv, I'm finding it to be true with less of those scratchy little grits of sand.

That's all for now - the last ten minutes of the Celtic's game are quickly approaching!

Weddings on the Brain

Imagine if the above dress came in white and was a bit longer - ah, gorgeous! It's a Marchesa design - which was in the press today with the wedding of the UK's Wayne & Colleen - the equivalent to Eva & Tony Parker. See her amazing Marchesa dress below - and look, it seems like this was taken someplace filled with lovely frescoes.


I can't help but have weddings on the brain. I'm thinking of dresses, locations, favors... I know, I know, a little premature right? But, a girl can dream. My sister's wedding is the best I've ever been to. Her dress weighed nearly 30 pounds, and was beautifully puffy with a tasteful art deco sparkle embroidery. She was influenced right before her wedding by watching Marie Antoinette - a visually epic movie with dresses like these. We bridesmaids - all 11 of us! - wore fantastic pink puffy dresses. I know it doesn't sound gorgeous but it really was. Trust me. In fact, my sister's dress was so big that she couldn't sit down in it! When she tried, her feet would fly up and poke out amidst the layers and layers of tulle. While many women might say - no puffy dresses! , The silhouette is really quite flattering on most body shapes. Below - some of the dresses of my dreams. And - finally, I got Aunt "St.Lucia's" ring off of my ring finger and on to my pinky! Finally, a few less people grabbing my hand posed to hear "the news." Patience, people!

Country Wrap Up

It was wonderful to be out of the hub this weekend - the roads are free from traffic, and potholes. Downsides: bug bites and a constant fear of finding a deer tick on me; Upsides: country air, most of the gardens in bloom, running free with the dogs.

Here's My Calling Card

Ah - this is great ! These calling cards from IOMOI are perfect for the self employed, or those who like to be known outside of their work! I like the squirrels, circle pattern and island pattern in brown. In fact - I'd take them all... as cards, wallpaper, skirts, dresses, and little coats for a pug who is aging gracefully. ... Update... I just looked through the IOMOI site a bit more... the coasters and to die for. Each design is more fun than the last. They are ideal for an anniversary gift, housewarming present, or favor. Perfect for the wedding on the hill in two weeks! The bride-to-be will be taking her hubby-to-be's last name, which starts with the letter 'X' ! Her monogram will be gorgeous - on one of these coasters!!




Bookmark this site ... now! Thanks to H.R.P.W.R. for the tip - she is the queen of fine paper goods!

Wedding Wear

Wedding season is upon us. While I need to start taking care of many other things (highlights, acne, general largeness in the hips, pedicures) the most important thing to nail down is the ensemble. While I am lucky enough to be a bridesmaid in a dear friends August wedding, there are a few others fetes for which I will need to buy, or re-fab summer dresses. The above Jcrew floor length number is simply gorgeous, but seriously, what is with JCrew and the price increase? $575? Girl, please. I need to find similar for less. After all, I don't do well in extreme heat - like my dear puggie Wyn - and I'll need to figure out that fine line between dressing for the heat, and coping out cause you're so hot your clothes stick to you - and you blew all the fuses in the apartment while blowdrying in front of the AC.

Oh and thankfully, both weddings are pretty much country mouse events - in all their glory! Most of the happenings will be outside, in lovely fields, near the ocean, and in a VERY special place, we like to call "the hill."

Through the Wire

TATUM O'NEILL WEARS WIRE RING

Tatum is going through a pretty hard time right now. Caught with crack - first, because she was rehearsing a role, second, because her dog died, and third, because she is an addict. In any case - Tatum obviously needs help - but what better way than to wear perfectly hand crafted jewelry, like that seen on her right ring finger. The wrapping technique is fairly common - but with the right stone - looks absolutely gorgeous. I wonder if she made it herself? Certainly a good way to keep her hands busy and calm her cravings!

The last time I thought about this woman was when she was in the FX show Rescue Me. I loved that show, that is until it got way too deep, and scary. Fires? Child deaths? Ghosts? More fires? Not right before bed, please. But you know what isn't scary in that show? Gorgeous Daniel Sunjata.

Heat Induced Decorating

I write while absolutely roasting in my apartment. There are a few old window units, making their attempt at air conditioning, but it's more of what I imagine the air in Kirkut to feel like, just blowing around. Yes, I am one of those people who like to incessantly comment on just how hot it is. I can't help it.

Such 90+ degree heat is perfect for moving heavy bedroom furniture up a few flights of stairs. I am working on completing the summer look for my bedroom. I am a firm believer in switching your bedding for the seasons. I am also known to move my room around as often as possible. Apparently most people arrange their furniture and park it there but I wish everything I owned was on wheels as to better serve my ever-changing decorating ideas.
I picked some small glass vases up at Target today (where everyone else in the entire city went to enjoy true AC) and some shells and stones. I filled these jars so that when I wake up, for a few minutes, I might think of my heaven - Crane's Beach - and not the morning traffic.

Creativity - Hilarity

I forgot to post this photo. This is when I tried to take a picture of one of my rings, but I didn't want my face in it. So I put a black coat over my head, held out the ring and waited for the photo --"beep." I am a talented photojournalist. I look like the grim reaper trying to give you a ring of eternal life.

Creativity

Wire with copper inside will turn your fingers green. I've spent over $200 figuring this out. When I was in between jobs, I pushed my anxiety into creating these rings. I started out with cheap wire from walmart and cheap fake pearls that looked beautiful. Then I moved to the hub and found a local outrageously expensive bead store. Soon I was buying Chinese Jade beads, solid sterling silver wire, a vintage ring mandrel, and countless other seed pearls and swarovski beads. I made these rings, non stop, until metal shards slipped under my finger nails, until my eyes were crossed from trying to find the tiny hole to thread a wire through.

I've given away nearly 50 of these rings. I have charged for maybe two of them. Yes, I know I could sell every one of them, I know I could mark up the price and make dinner parties awkward when I bring out my goods, and mention I have petty cash to make change.

Of course, I never quite figured out how to photograph them well either. These photos were taken with my i-sight camera and obviously, don't provide a very good glimpse of what I make.


I gave another one away today to a work friend who has been through a breakup, a job change, and may currently be falling in love with her own version of Mr. Big.

More to come, but apparently the gold and silver prices are way up, along with gas, meaning that a yard of sterling silver wire that won't turn your finger green will probably set me back about $23.

The Drive

The drive. It takes about an hour and ten minutes.... on the most perfect driving day you can find. But typically, when the boyfriend and I are making the trip from the hub to the hill, it's on a Friday, before a holiday weekend, at 5:30 p.m. I play all the songs on my Itunes, sing every commercial jingle I know, eat some snacks I brought for us. And at that point, we're about 54 miles away from the hill.

With Monchichi in the back seat, rubbing his nose on the windows, patiently waiting for the green hills that will soon fill his view, M. and I often struggle to maintain sanity, clarity and care for one another during these trips. I become convinced that if he does not press the brakes harder, we are certainly going to slam right into the back of the breaking car in front of us. I grip the seat or throw my hands up to the ceiling. He sighs, and typically says "do you want to drive?" Then he, albeit safely, careens in between the city drivers who are just as anxious to get to an open space.

Tonight we're waiting out the traffic, and heading out to the country later than usual. But just you wait, when I return from being a country mouse - I'll have some tales to tell.

Sweet Treats

Canto 6 Bakery - my love for croissants, flaky pastry, and tuna melts (even though they dont have them here ) is the reason I am practicing a bit of self loathing for lack of gym visits and tight waist bands.

Low Rise Jeans

Oh, low rise jeans, you make me feel less woman. Your opposite intention, I imagine. Women across America, squeeze, jump, jiggle into you only to button you lower than what the game of Operation taught us was our waist. On thinner girls, jutting hipbones protrude above your denim lines, as if small mountain tops that peak in waifish confidence. Most of us though, find new body parts when we try you on. Skin and fat, as if fleeing from your very fibers, flop outward, sideways, upwards. Constantly women are making choices based on your demands. "Oh, I'll take that side," a girl offers at a restaurant to ensure her backside is exposed only to the wall and not the likely to be offended patrons. Tops of buttocks take their shape outside your unforgiving parameters, bringing the tops of thong underwear along for their clothing vacation. Young girls expose too much in you. You beg them to parade their sexuality too young, their hips unripe for such exposure. Older women pity themselves even more squeezed in your style. They're temporarily unrecognizable from 20somethings as they too grap you by your belt straps and yank upward, trying to gain just one more inch of coverage. But it's no use. Our methods of concealing our bodies are rendered useless when we've hopelessly devoted ourselves to you. You ask too much. Our hips just don't move that way. We are not Giselle. It's time for a break-up. We want to be grabbed by the waist, twisted around, made to feel lovely, gorgeous, slim and if need be, concealed. Yet you break us down every time. We want to fall in love again. This time, it won't be with you.

Why?

We're completely caught up in ourselves. We're drunk with narcissism. We've become completely voyeuristic and we're defining ourselves, and understanding others, through the internet. Less by our actions, more about our typepad, font and photo. But few stay afloat, socially, without giving into these means, these seemingly inconsequential forms of "online social networks."

But, I'm ranting. The defining quality of these blogs. So, though I loathe my pedestrian tongue every time I say it, but ...If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

Yet still, I wonder, how much do I divulge? I'm no Stephanie Klein, recanting countless personal, private details. Yet still, you cannot stay afloat. Even the simplest entries will come from a more deep-seeded place, though, so it's just a temporary veil if I leave out names, change places and speak in metaphor. But then, at least, it's out of me. Spun out to words.

So I'll attempt, for my sake, and for yours, whoever you are, to write honestly and diligently, every day. One sentence, two photos or page long over-analytical rants. It will start with that one random person, then the 5 close girlfriends, and with time, it will take all my guts not to tailor the content to this one or that one who reads it. We're all satisfying the urge to judge, watch, see and define anyway. I'll lend my hand.

Remember, You're Just a Country Mouse

"Remember," my father always says, "you're just a country mouse." Before any trip to Boston, New York, or certainly the trips abroad without my parents, he would remind that I was a country mouse. It was as if acknowledging that I had grown up jumping into hay in a barn, running through tall grass (before lyme disease even existed) would mean that I wouldn't jump out into a busy city street, get hit by a cab, or make conversation with bums on the street.

Even now, that I am here in the city, jumping out in front of cabs (they'll never stop for you anyway), he reminds me. Country Mouse.

Mouse Flats

No, not every post will have something to do with mice, in the country, or in the city (though they run rampant in both places!). But I could not resist a post of these shoes. Marc Jacobs mouse flats are not for everyone, and despite the efforts of my dear roommate to convince me that they are beyond ridiculous, they are on my mind all the time. Yes, I complain that I am most likely not taken too seriously due to my wardrobe and rebellious nature to often dress in Easter egg colors, or in rather unflattering silhouettes (but I love puffy sleeves!) But I am drawn to outfits that make my boyfriend laugh when I get dressed in the morning. Though at this point, I don't think there is much that could surprise him.

We all know it's no fun to get dressed for work every morning - we are at a tough age, in a tough city, nearly broke from time to time, and splurging on things we don't really need - like a Marc Jacobs mouse flat. I promise to detail my struggle with finding my own taste and style (a goal for ages) and constant updates with clothes, jewels, people and places that don't follow any rules.

An Introduction

The City Mouse and the Country Mouse

There once was a mouse who liked his country house until his cousin came for a visit.

"In the city where I live," his cousin said, "we dine on cheese and fish and bread. Each night my dinner is brought to me. I eat whatever I choose. While you, country cousin, work your paws to the bone for humble crumbs in this humble home. I'm used to finery. To each his own, I see!"

Upon hearing this, the country mouse looked again at his plain brown house. Suddenly he wasn't satisfied anymore. "Why should I hunt and scrape for food to store?" he said. "Cousin, I'm coming to the city with you!"

Off they went into the fine town house of the plump and prosperous city mouse.

"Shhh! The people are in the parlor," the city mouse said. "Let's sneak into the kitchen for some cheese and bread."

The city mouse gave his wide-eyed country cousin a grand tour of the leftover food on the table. "It's the easy life," the city mouse said, and he smiled as he bit into a piece of bread.

Just as they were both about to bite into a chunk of cheddar cheese, In came the CAT!

"Run! Run!" said the city mouse. "The cat's in the house!"

Just as the country mouse scampered for his life out of the window, he said, "Cousin, I'm going back to the country! You never told me that a CAT lives here! Thank you, but I'll take my humble crumbs in comfort over all of your finery with fear!"

There are so many versions of this story, and they all apply to what happened to me when I first moved here, and what I continue to feel. So I make the trips back and forth from the city to the country and back again, still stuck somewhere in between.