Swiggity Swap

Head on over to evlove to sign up for a fabulous Holiday Swap. You get to give what you want to get! Does that make sense, or did I totally wordify, and therefore flub it up? Whatever, you get the idea. Just go sign up (deadline is Nov. 18) and get yer shopping done early!

Giving Thanks: BFF's

Giggles. Gossip. General goofiness.

Smiles. Laughter. Tears.

Just Like Old Times.

Is there Anything Better?

Razzle Dazzle 'Em

All that glitters is gold. These love dovies are just begging (practically pleading) to go to a party this holiday season. Totally party-worthy. Not necessarily budget-worthy.

These, are fantastic and much more wallet-friendly. Seriously, a walking disco ball. How could you leave the party without transforming into a dance dance dance dance dancin' machine? Lalalalove at first sight.

Giving Thanks: Easy Reading

Sometimes it feels so good to read, just for the sake of reading. Thank you, Twilight series, for allowing me this simple pleasure. Not my favorite books of all time, but definitely loads of fun and true page-turners. Sister is reading it too. Double the pleasure. Double the fun.

P.S. I'm totally on team Edward (along with everyone else). Is team Jacob a team of one?

Tags

Jobs (in no particular order):

1. One Part of a 4-man Cleaning Crew Extraordinaire

2. Executive Assistant

3. Airline Sales/Loyalty Retention (fancy way of saying "How Can We Keep the Dollars Rolling In?")

4. Economics Department Tutor (nerd alert!)

5. Conference Coordinator

Jobs I'd Like:

1. NASCAR team owner, or NASCAR pit reporter

2. Lingerie Designer (tasteful...NOT trashy)

3. Food Network Personality

4. Travel Book Writer

5. Event Planner

6. Food Critic

7. Real Estate Developer

Movies on PeteandRepeat:

1. Romeo & Juliet (Baz Luhrmann)

2. Pride & Prejudice

3. The Usual Suspects

4. Raising Arizona

5. Big Fish

6. Count of Monte Cristo

7. Marie Antoinette (just dripping with beauty)

8. Any Audrey Hepburn (I kind of feel like Audrey has the "I scream, you scream, we all scream..." syndrome, but decided to include her anyway)

Books:

1. I read loads and loads of cookbooks

2. Romeo & Juliet (I guess it's more of a play)

3. Pride & Prejudice

4. The Great Gatsby

5. The Age of Turbulence

6. Good to Great

7. How to Win Friends and Influence People

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things To Do:

1. Travel: anyplace, anytime, with anyone

2. Look at houses, cars, and jewelry

3. Cook & Bake. Especially with a friend or sister or Pam

4. Entertain: dream up, plan, host parties and other fun reasons to get people together

5. Think about the future

6. Work Out

7. Find really great gifts

I've Lived:

1. Royal Oak, Michigan

2. Salt Lake City, Utah

3. Palo Alto, California (does it count if your only permanent residence there was your sisters couch because you visited every weekend for 6 months straight?)

4. New York, New York

Favorite Foods:

1. Fresh Basil

2. Limes

3. Vinegar

4. Honey

5. Sushi

6. Dessert

7. Bing


Places I'd Rather Be:

1. On a tropical/exotic vacation

2. On a Girls Trip

3. China with G./Brazil or Austin with A./NYC Penthouse (China too!) with L./Costa Rica (or Mexico) with M./England (preferably London and Cotswolds) with other A./In a Cottage by the Sea with P.

4. Having a Day at the Spa

5. A NASCAR Race, a Tennis match, or lounging by the pool

6. A sample sale

Words I Quite Like:

1. peripatetic

2. galligaskins (aka, trousers)

3. acid

4. mitochondria

5. effervescent

6. boogie

7. jeepers

8. rigmarole

9. luxuriating


Tag! You're It:

1. Jen

2. Ash

3. Jacqueline

4. Laura

5. Anyone else who wants to join the fray!

Giving Thanks: No Snow

No snow on Halloween. Hallelujah! Halloween has passed and the weather is clinging to moderate with some serious staying power (though sill much too cold for my liking). Here's to a warm-ish weekend with blue-ish skies and falling-ish leaves.

Holly Sleeplightly

This Holly Golightly sleep mask is practically a dead ringer for the real deal. I've wanted one just like this practically since the day I was born (which is roughly the first time I saw Breakfast at Tiffany's). It's been TLA ever since.



I can find but one flaw in the execution of this getup. The earplugs (see picture below). I've had a love affair with those teal tassels since birth too (it may have even started in the womb). BRAVO! and three cheers for one amazing sleep mask, two thumbs down and a big BOO! for lack of earplugs. Better luck next time, eh, Fred Flare.

Giving Thanks: Retro Heater Fan

It is November, after all.

Today, I'm thankful for my heater fan. Not only does it have a cute retro design, it keeps me warm and is portable too. For example: I take it up to the cabin and lay on the floor next to it for roughly 3 hours until the place heats up. I also set it next to the shower door so when I step out, the tile isn't cold and then I flip it around and keep even warmer while I get ready. I did that today. It made me (and Miss Famous---who hogs it) so so happy.

Halloween Hangover

For breakfast today I had 2 of these: Plus a few other candies totally loaded with sugar sweet goodness. To balance out the sugar overload (as if that could really happen---sugar overload---sheesh), I had one of these sugar free drinks:

Obviously, I'm deviating from my normal Breakfast of Champions. It's good to mix things up a bit every now and then. Keeps me unpredictable.

You Go Ghoulfriend

I'm sooooooo doing this next year. Or maybe sooner, if I just can't stand it.

And I'm passing these out to everyone.

Happy Halloween!

My Sister Calls Me Margot

I did a real doozie. My pointer finger unwisely battled a sharp kitchen utensil, and I guess you can tell who won. My battle wounds are covered with copious amounts of neosporin, liquid skin, gauze, and bandages. As a result, my sister calls me Margot. As in Margot Tenenbaum (classic film, even more classic character). You may recall how she lost part of her right ring finger, and thusly has a wooden one (see above photo). My pointer finger looks strangely similar. So my sister calls me Margot. i.e., "What are you doing today, Margot?", and "Whatever you say, Margot."

Reason #7 I Miss Manhattan (Part I)

Reason #7 I Miss Manhattan (Part II)

The Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade. We serendipitously happened upon this last year and happily joined the melee. (Incidentally, we were strolling around the Pet Rat fellow). You mustmustmust watch the video to the end. Elton John was by far my favorite, though he doesn't get much play in the video. Just a small cameo that doesn't do him justice (he had on a hand made silk jacquard jacket, feather boa, and rose colored glasses).

Nothing beats a sunny day in the park, filled with people unabashedly parading their dogs around the ring.

Pet Rat

Heartsick. My week, in a word. Much of it has been spent with a dear friend experiencing an untimely and tragic loss. It's so hard to stand by. Feeling helpless. All you can do is hope. And pray. That each day gets a little easier. That somehow they find peace and comfort. And send flowers and food.

One clever friend from California sent over a care package chock full of goodies. Then decided to include a random gummy rat. As a group of friends sat around rifling through its contents, it gave us a good chuckle. The brave ones among us even decided to taste it. They claim it just tastes like gummy candy (obviously, I'm a whimp), though for some reason I was certain it would taste like the NYC subway system. Go figure. When the pet rat was gone, the paper underneath the package had some "Fun Facts" written on it. Now, I've seen enough rats in NYC to make your head spin. Almost stepped on more than I'd care to talk about. I didn't like them then, but I reallyreallyreally don't like them now. Remember, the paper says the facts are fun. You be the judge. Here they are:

• A rat can last longer without water than a camel.


• Even very large rats can fit through very tiny spaces. How tiny? Well, let's put it this way -- if you have a hole the size of a nickel in your wall, you could one day see a rat squeezing throught it. Rats don't have bones. They're made up of cartilage, which is flexible.


• Rats can hold their breath for three minutes and tread water for three days.


• Rats multiply so quickly that in 18 months, two rats could have over a million descendants.

Thoughts? I'll tell you mine. This little snippet did not make me think rats were fun. Nor did it even make me think they were tolerable. Yuck-yuck-double yuckity-mc-yuckerson.

Soak It In

Rub-a-dub-dub, I'd die for this tub
And why do you think that be?

The lamp, the chair, and the general flair,
Turn it on, and it massages me.

Bad to the Bone China

This skull & bones dinnerware set from Z Gallerie is dreadfully delightful. Imagine the possibilities...macabre candleabras, long tapered candles dripping wax, and some spooky spiders to set the centerpiece scene. I mean seriously, if you think about it, almost everyone shells out for a Christmas dinnerware set. So why not Halloween?

Trash-tastic

In the spirit of good Halloween fun, the folks over at Elle Girl magazine put together a handful of ideas for costumes and dress-ups. They're all about pop culture and headline grabbing celebrities. Being the trashy person I am, and never one to deprive myself of a good People or Us Weekly, I thought they were quite comical. I'm sure I could do better though. Even one-up them. It would be funny to have a whole Halloween party based around this trash-tastic theme.

The invitation could say something like, "Come dressed as your favorite rockstar-beautiful babe-blown out-washed up-dolled up-celebrity. For inspiration, look no further than your local grocery stand mag rack."

You could make a tablecloth from old mag clippings or even your old posters from your bedroom walls (how awesome would that be?). Then serve food based around celebrities. For example: start with Heidi & Spencer salad, followed by a generous helping of Britney BBQ brisket, Mariah mash, and Sanjaya squash. Don't forget the Beckham brownies for dessert. And wash it all down with the some delicious Perez punch.

Also, you could play Pop Culture Trivial Pursuit and make sure to pass a few Polas around so you've got photographic evidence of everyone getting their glam on.

My Bob Is Back (Sung to the golden oldies tune 'My Boyfriends Back')

*forgive the fierce photo...I had to take it myself*

My bob is back and it's not givin' me trouble

(Hey-la-day-la my bob is back)

See me comin' and you'll probably take a double

(Hey-la-day-la my bob is back)

Some were spreadin' lies that it's not something I'd do
(hey-la-day-la my bob is back)
But look out now 'cuz I've got a new 'do
(Hey-la-day-la by bob is back)


Hey, 5 minutes of blow dryin'
That leaves me smilin' no more cryin'



It's been gone for such a long time
(Hey-la-day-la my bob is back)
But now it's back and things'll be fine
(Hey-la-day-la my bob is back)

I'm not sorry it was ever shorn
(Hey-la-day-la my bob is back)
'Cuz it was such a pain and it was awful long
(Hey-la-day-la my bob is back)


Hey! No straight or curling irons
Now, it's hair paste and quick stylin'



For 11 years I wore it so long
(Wah-oo0, wah-ooo)
Then, 27 inches! Chop, snip---gone!
(Wah-ooo, wait 'til you see)

My bob is back it's gonna save my reputation
(Hey-la-day-la my bob is back)
I almost thought it took a permanent vacation
(But, hey-la-day-la my bob is back)



Yeah, my bob is back
(Lay-da-la my bob is back)
Look out now, yeah, my bob is back
(Lay-da-la my bob is back)

For months it has been comin'
(Lay-da-la my bob is back)
And the results are pretty stunnin'

(Lay-da-la my bob is back)

Allright now

(Lay-da-la, my bob is back)

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

(Lay-da-la, my bob is back)

My bob is back now

(Lay-da-la, my bob is back)

Oh I love my new 'do

(Lay-da-la, my bob is back)

To it I'll always be true now...

Creepy Crudite Cat

This appetizer for a Halloween party is so so easy and even more clever. Why didn't I think of it?

I suppose you wouldn't have to use black bean dip either. Any dip would do , really. I don't know which part is my favorite...the cherry tomato kneecaps, the carrot phalanges, or the green bean ribs? The only problem I can foresee is replenishment. Perhaps you would have to have 2 trays on the ready so that when one diminishes you can replace it instead of refill. That would take too long.

*via 100 percent cottam*

My Feet are Whimpering

Ugh. I walked and shopped alot today. At the greatest outlet malls in the world. At least the best ones that are just a hop, skip, & a jump away. Anyhoo, my feet hurt. I'm pretty sure I know why. I tried on a pair of bee-yootiful-gorgeous-amazing-wonderful-glorious-hip-stylish-sooper califragilistic expensive-aladocious shoes. They fit so wonderfully (like a glove), so I took a stroll around the store in them and fell even more in love. Oh, the sugary sweet comfort of pure unadulterated luxury. Seriously, they were easily worth the $800 price tag based on comfort alone. Then, sadly, I had to slip them off and return them to their rightful place on the rack and put my poor little feet back into my $15 flats from Target. Now my feet are punishing me. Boo-hoo! Waaaaahhhh. Sob sob sob. Sniff sniff.

Playground of the Stars

I'm taking a regularly scheduled break from SLC in Palm Springs, CA. Probably my favorite place in the world. Second, of course, to Hawaii, Costa Rica, Mexico, Hong Kong, London, Venice, NYC, Nice, and the Italian Riviera. I'm sure I left a few out, but you get the idea. It's so relaxing. Sunshine, palm trees, convertibles, sunglasses, mid-century architecture, swimming pools, estate sales, and streets named after stars of a bygone era who called all this glory their playground. Now this is my kind of town.

Joy to the World! (aka, Not To Jump the Gun Or Anything)

But...look what arrived in my mailbox today. This is my most anticipated catalogue of the year. Every single item on every single page is TDF. It's Major.

This years Neiman Marcus Christmas Book commemorates the 100th Anniversary, with fashionable pages inspired by years past (1920s is my hands down fave, followed by 1960s). Plus, the infamous fantasy gifts. How about a chocolate syrup painting for a cool $100k? Or a 305-carat custom diamond necklace for $1m? If that doesn't suit your fancy, there's also a yellow submarine for roughly $1.4m.

OK, no more Christmas until December. Or maybe the day after Thanksgiving.

Spooky Sipper

These ghastly ghost glasses from the Martha Stewart Collection for Macy's are right up my spook alley. I saw a tutorial for them in her Halloween Holiday issue, but seriously...I'm just not the type to make. I'd rather buy. Buy on sale, if possible. Which in this case, it is. In fact, just about everything in her Halloween collection for Macy's is on sale for roughly half price right now. Which usually brings the price point down to my willingness to pay for Martha goods.

iPod Shuffle

I've been meaning to join in on the fun of Lacey's game for a while now. But, of course, I had no idea where my ipod was. Actually, I was pretty sure I knew where it was, but I didn't want to get to the bottom of unpacking roughly 25 moving boxes to find it. But, I did. Now, we are reunited, and it feels so good. So here goes...

1. Modern Love: Bloc Party.

My sister introduced me to this song a few years ago. Then we went to one of their concerts in NYC. Even though I couldn't see over the 6'6" person standing in front of me or thru the thick haze of the people smoking on all sides of me, it's been TLA ever since.

2. Little Red Corvette: Prince.

Ahhh, Prince. He takes me straight back to high school. We lived, loved, and breathed Prince. Even watched his wacked out movie, 'Purple Rain'. Those were the days.

3. Young Hearts Run Free: Kym Mazelle.

This song just makes me feel good. Makes me want to be me. Then it makes me giggle when I think of Mercutio's uhhh-mazingly executed dance performance to it in Baz Luhrmann's 'Romeo & Juliet'. I'm pretty sure I could replicate it on command.

4. Love At First Sight: Kylie Minogue.

I'm a sucker for a good pop tune. I like Kylie's voice and her style.

5. SexyBack: Justin Timberlake.

So so so glad a JT song made it's way onto my first ten (though it's incredibly surprising that it's the only one that made it into my first ten). Lalalalove JT.

6. Liz On Top of the World: Jean-Yves Thibaudet.

Yea, I've seen the A&E Pride & Prejudice 10 times, the new P&P 75 times, read the book 25 times, so I naturally listen to the Pride & Prejudice soundtrack on a regular basis. So what?

7. Elevator Love Letter: Stars.

I'm in lovelovelove with this song for so many reasons. Easily a top 10 hit for me.

8. Let's Get Retarded: Black Eyed Peas.

Nothing beats a good 'makes me wanna get outta my chair and shake my thang on the dance floor' tune. Or just a 'bouncin' 'round in the driver seat' tune will suffice if a dance floor is not in the immediate area.

9. Love Today: MIKA.

This is probably my personal theme song for 2007. I literally cannot get enough of it. I can't tell you how many times I've been running about, just hitting repeat, and the next thing I know, it's been an hour. It's kind of like my own personal version of the "Just one more, and then I'll quit..."

10. Tiny Dancer: Elton John.

I had a friend who thought the lyrics to this song were "Hold me closer, Tony Danza", and ever since then I can't get enough of it. If only it really were about an endearing male nanny in Connecticut.

11. Sexual Healing: Stevie Wonder.

I know, I know, we're only supposed to do 10. But I had to add an 11 when this was the next song that came up. I kid you not, this was the 11th song that popped up. I had no idea this was even on my ipod. But now that I do, I'm gonna add it to my top rated songs. Suh-weeet.

I guess it's plain to see I'm no music snob. I welcome music of all shapes and sizes to my realm (good thing we didn't have to do 12, when I'd have to explain what 'Cheeseburger In Paradise' is doing on my ipod). But enough about me. Let's talk about you. What did you think of me? Just kidding, what I meant to say was...Alright, who's next? It's easy to do. Just turn your ipod on, go to shuffle songs, hit play, and you're ready to (rock and) roll with the first 10 songs that play.

Meet My Mummy

If wishes were kisses...

At my house, October and Halloween would be like unto December and Christmas. A month long celebration, full of anticipation and emancipation (not really that last one but it sounded good). I'd re-dress the place in spooky spooks and freaky frights. Instead of Holiday music, I'd pull out Monster Mash and other golden oldies. I'd dress up in costume every year (oh, wait...I already do that).

I'm not one for the cutesy decorations. I try them out for size sometimes, but they just don't seem to fit. I like full moon nights with haunted mansions, wicked witches, bags of bones, ravens and owls, mummies and mice, tapered flickering candelabras, brewing cauldrons, black cats, ghastly ghosts, freakish figures, and casting spells. Nothing freaks me more than a good fright night.

There's only one place that makes this freakish fantasy of mine come true. Grandin Road has such a vast collection of All-Hallows Eve collectibles it's almost scary. You want it, they've got it. Their Halloween Haven is my go-to source of inspiration for Halloween, and it never disappoints. Someday, when I have the space and time and money, I'm gonna buy every flippin' thing in their Halloween issue. Then I'll invite all of you over for the most freakishly fantastic night of your lives.

Reason #41 I Like Living Outside Manhattan

Target. Duh. This one's so obvious it almost pains me to say it. Almost. But I was gonna title this post "An Ode to Target, Part I", but I couldn't decide and then I remembered that I wouldn't be able to even drive to Target at 8:30 p.m. in Manhattan on a Thursday night and wander the aisles, just because. Hence, the title.

But back to Target. Oh, Target, how I love thee, let me count the ways...Just kidding, if I actually did this, I lalalalove Target so so so much we'd be here 'til kingdom come. Even though I pronounce it like a Frenchi doofus, "Tar-jay"--soft on the "jay"--it's only because it's like a pet name or something. I don't know. What I do know is that my heart skips a beat when I walk in the doors. I have the layout memorized (seriously...love that every store has basically the same layout), and a route that I take every single time.

Walk in the doors, take a right into the electronics department and see if any good movies are on sale, head to the back to check out the seasonal gear (Halloween at the moment), walk down the middle aisle and see if there are any good shoes that I can't live without, take a right and that puts me smack dab in the womens/juniors clothing department where I always always always check out and covet the latest GO designer before making my way to the beauty/hygiene section, then straight away to the grocery in case I need any small items, and finally I'm on my way.

My latest find was really really stellar. Right next to the beauty section where they sometimes have seasonal candies and delights, what did my wondrous eyes behold? Flippin' Franken Berry, Count Chocula, and yes---hold your breath---Boo Berry cereals. When I was a kid I loved Boo Berry so so much. I'm really not a cereal person anymore, but you betcha I bought the last box on the shelf. On sale for 0.99 cents! I would like to personally shake the hand of the individual who had the idea to bring the classic 3 Monsters cereals back for a Halloween go-'round.

Ahh. Sigh. I've been to Target twice this week, and all is well in the world.

Stretch It Out

If wishes were kisses...

I'd be struttin' my stuff around in these sweet caramello looking Loeffler Randall boots. Lalalalove the mini wedge. Love it.

Halloween Countdown "Don't Forget!"

An invitation is one of the most important details for any party. It sets the overall tone and expectation. Of all the Halloween invitations I've been tempted by over the years, I always come back to this one. It is the most clever and hysterical of them all. Oh, I'd just die if I received this...literally. Years ago, I remember they had a tutorial on how to make this. But now, you can just forget all that pish posh and buy 'em pre-made. Not bad.

DND

I've always loved Lollia bath products for their glamorous simplicity and luscious scents. This Boudoir Door Sign is the ultimate in glamorous finishing touches for a perfectly relaxing bubble bath soak. Which doesn't sound too bad right about now.

Harvest

As soon as the pumpkins take center stage in front of the local grocery, the wheels in my brain start turning in a new direction.

Gone are the days of sunscreen, snowcones, salads, and sunglasses. All I can think about is sweaters, sweet baked treats, stormy weather, and soirees. I dust off the recipe books, pull out the sweaters, and dream up the most amazing mother loving Halloween party this side of the Mississippi. I can't help it. Something about those pumpkins really gets me going. And I don't even like pumpkin pie.