Ahoy Stripes

I'm loving this dress from Maje. Perfect for late spring and summer. And I'm loving the price of $170 (refreshingly inexpensive compared to it's Net-a-Porter neighbors). It's also shown with Sigerson Morrison sandals that are to die for.

I've come around to (some) plaid shirts

I can hear the grunge jokes already, but there is something about it that I like. I especially like the Shopbop/Madewell price of $68 bucks.

Although, as I write this I'm watching the snowboarding half-pipe and am noticing some similarities...

Tea or Coffee?

I don't have too many vices, just the regulars - Bravo, Diet Coke, bulk candy, sales at Barney's, sales on cashmere, Salon shoes at sale prices, you get my drift...

And what's been getting my attention lately? Tea. Like a true addict, it's always within arms' reach and if I don't have it with me, I feel slightly unnerved. In late summer, I virtually abandoned coffee in favor of black tea, full-time. In the fall, the conditioned worsened and by what it now late winter, I'm a full-blown user.

What I have grown to also appreciate is the complex universe that accompanies tea. The varieties, the different cups and mugs, the different brewing techniques... Here are a few of the things that I'm either using, or have caught my addict eye.

Intelligentsia's 333: Introduced to me by some very special people in the know, this is amazingness. Herbal teas usually fall flat for me, but the flavors in this are amazing. The mix of tart rosehips and fresh peppermint is a really nice compliment to the chamomille.

Teavana's Thousand Mountain Jasmine: My Christmas present from my boyfriend (it's a long story), I underestimated how good it would be. With just a little agave, it quickly becomes a sweet treat, otherwise it's a solid black tea.

Hario's 15-oz. teapot, perfect for brewing loose tea for two or one. I love it's design and the glass makes judging strength so much easier. This is on the wishlist.

Breville's Variable-Temperature Kettle: While it's still a little bulky for my taste, I love that it has temperature settings for different varieties of tea. I have loved electric kettles since I used to spend weeks at a time with my cousins in Denmark. Europeans know how to do it with tea, always present and always quickly brewed in an electric kettle. It makes so much sense and it's so quick. While this one is the Rolls-Royce, any electric kettle makes me happy.

And to enjoy, two options for the home:


Crate and Barrel's Latte Mug makes for the most perfect "big cup." I had been on the hunt for the best big white mug for some time, and again, the best, most hip friends in NY opened my eyes to the bargain that was right in front of my eyes.

And for the more urbane, Bodum's tumbler. It looks so amazing when it's filled, and the technology lives up to it's reputation, you really can't feel the heat.

And for on the go:

From Summit Tea Company, a glass and stainless steel tumbler that lets you brew loose tea while not being limited to the pot. Ah, the convenience.

Just what the doctor ordered

I know my last post was depressing, but what can I say, sometimes it just has to come out. Thankfully, sometimes the stars align and a window of opportunity opens. And this time, it's in the form of a cheaper than dirt vacation. And trust me, I really do mean cheap, nearly free, because otherwise it would NOT be happening.

But thankfully it is and I now have something to look forward to, helllooo Playa del Carmen.




Have you ever been there? I went to neighboring Akumal in college and it was heaven. We ventured in to Playa for one day and while it was more crowded and developed, I certainly won't turn it way since, to abuse the saying, it quite literally came knocking at my door.

Here's to sunny vacations and streetcart tacos.

"Present" (I think)

Blogger roll call: I'm here, just barely hanging on.

While I'd like to get back to more interesting things like celebrity weight and prettiness, I'm in the midst of what has been the hardest week in what continues to be a really difficult time. When I left advertising in search of a more creative career, I knew it would be a long, hard road towards realizing my potential. I re-enrolled in school (something I never expected when I left undergrad) and now I find myself in a world that feels, well... uncomfortable.

I say uncomfortable because while I continually have to test my ability and talent (which in the end feels good) I also have wound up in a place where the next buck is a question mark and the next break is unknown. My emotion stems from a week of no sleep and constant homework (in a string of many), so yes, I'm exhausted and irrational, but in these moments it's possible to take a good hard look. I went from a "career" with direct deposit, a comfy desk, tech support and co-workers who made me laugh even when the job made me cry. Now I'm using my tax return to pay for school, buying art supplies on credit and turning down social functions because the money is just not there. On Sunday, my Superbowl contribution was Craisins (odd, I know), because I could spare them.

Get a job? I wish I even knew how to fit it in. The statistic for my program (if you believe it) is that 10% who start manage to finish within three years. I want to be one of the 10%. I want co-workers again, I want a life again, I want all these things. I know people do much more with much less time, but I'm struggling. And it's made me bitter. Hearing about a family friend of my boyfriend who will be arriving to the Olympic games on their jet this weekend makes me sick. While I've always thought private planes were extravagant, they never actually angered me. Now, the extravagance of it only serves as a real life example of how disproportionate wealth is - how clear the line is between the haves and the have nots. And while I have no right to say it's unfair, the fact that wealth like that is not put towards programs like scholarships and assistance -- it just seems misplaced. It's the fruit of their labor and one day, I should only hope to be so lucky. In the meantime, it serves as the tipping point for my frustration.

So tomorrow I wake up to more drawings and more assignments. And hopefully, having given my mind an outlet, I'll be able to sleep and the tightness in my throat that preludes tears will subside. Thanks for listening.

Rut City

I'm in a rut, style wise.

I have no need to buy clothes anymore since at school, I would just get paint on them, or graphite from hours spent drafting, but also, I have no desire to put the money there. Money is for the aforemetnioned books and graphite.

But reading one of my favorite blogs, frugal fashonista, I realized "I can do this!"


I have all of the things I would need to pull this off! The sweater, the pants, the flats, and all of a sudden, a new lease on my look without dropping coin.

I love when that happens.

Thank You Healthcare!

So my healthcare is changing due to the fact that I'm once again a student. December was filled with every doctor appointment I could think of and going over my existing benefits with a fine tooth comb, since who knows what the next plan will offer or how much it will cost me.

But one positive was making use of my $300 hardware credit on my vision plan. When I graduated from college, the only thing I wanted as a gift was freedom from contacts. Since the 5th grade I have worn contacts and before that, glasses (although those were shortlived, I'm not cut out for specs). By 22, my sight had gotten bad enough that I was nervous about losing a contact, the results would be too disastrous. So when the opportunity presented itself, one of the best surgeons in Seattle gave me the gift of sight, 17 seconds on one eye, 19 seconds on the other.

And voila, 20/15 vision for the girl who was almost legally blind. And now, I have a medical reason for still needing to take care of my eyes and it doesn't include coke-bottle lenses.

It includes these:


"Opthamological Grade" Fendi sunglasses. Brought to me by my favorite "preferred provider."

I didn't need another pair of sunglasses, but would you turn down the chance of getting your money back in the form of lightweight tortoise sunglasses that cover just enough of your face to feel mysterious, but not so much that you feel like a poser?

I didn't think so.

I know...

I went on an unintentional break. I was MIA and I gotta say, I kind of loved it. But I'm back and hopefully better than ever. Probably not though, sorry. Can't dream too big.

I don't know what happened, but with the end of the year and a ton of holiday hooplah, I just checked out. It wasn't helped by my utter lack of inspiration and creativity. Is it just me, or is stuff not so interesting right now? The new House Beautiful? Blah. The new Elle Decor? Yeah, it was all right I guess... But here I am, attempting to make a go of 2010 and see the good.

But let's discuss some of the things that have taken place since we parted back in November (gosh that's hard to admit):

First, Jersey Shore.


Are you watching? I can't do it. I can do a lot of things when it comes to lowering my standards, but there is something about this show that absolutely disgusts me. I'm shocked about how big it is and that despite my protest, they still end up in the pages of my US and appearing on my talk shows. Disgusting, but if you disagree, by all means knock yourself out.

Tiger.

I don't have anything new to add to this topic, and mainly that's because after hearing about him and his dozen for nearly a MONTH AND A HALF, I'm surprised that ANYONE has anything else to say! Talk about running something to the ground. I do find it fascinating that the same people who made him in to the "Golf God, Can Do No Wrong, Athlete of the Decade" man, are the same people who are tearing him down and not covering the real issues, i.e., healthcare, wars (plural!), the economy, I can go on...

(But. I do have to add that these pictures are creepy. It's no wonder they weren't released until a sex/porn/stripper/cheating/drug scan-dahl).

Charlie Gibson.

The middle of December marked the end of Charlie Gibson in my everyday life, and yes, as I previously mentioned, it was marked with tears. I was a wreck that night and it's with sadness that I see Diane Sawyer at 5:30pm. I would abandon network world news in protest, but I'm a creature of habit, what can I say?

And finally. Movies.

What did you see over the holidays? Avatar broke a billion, Nancy Meyers released the same movie again, Twilight was still in theaters and 2009 was the best box-office year ever. With all the cutbacks and job losses, we didn't skimp on the movies. But I'm wondering what we all saw that really made us think "that was great." Personally, my favorite movie from the holiday season was The Young Victoria. It was beautiful and Emily Blunt was amazing. But call me crazy, I don't think many people are going to be lining up for a period drama...

So in summation, I'm back. Worse for the wear, as the holiday season/birthday/new year gauntlet always takes it out of me. It does, however, make me re-evaluate and take things in to consideration and hopefully, it gives us something to talk about.

Happy New Year.

Sign of the Times

It's been a hell of a week - tons of homework that has had me up until the wee hours of the morning and choice signs from the universe that I'm not the kid I used to be, despite the glue that I can't get off my hands from hours spent gluing school projects.

Two things happened to me last week that are particularly telling. One, being that after sucking it up and deciding to spend the money on highlighting my hair (it had been nine months of nothing) my stylist informed me that I have a gray hair. A GRAY HAIR. It's kind of a big deal when you're in your twenties and it's almost the last thing you expect to sneak up on you. Being broke, fine. Career dilemmas, sure. But a gray hair? Never saw it coming.

Then, to add insult to injury. I have somehow been selected for the mailing list of this catalogue:

That's right. I guess my purchase history has somehow led me to this place where I receive tall girl magazines for 40-year-olds. Long Tall Sally. Even the name is demeaning. Maybe if the catalogue was decent, I wouldn't be so non-plussed, but the the styling is terrible and although they claim to carry good brands, it sure doesn't look it. Nothing is marked as such in the pages, it's just frump after frump. It's not good.

And neither is the gray hair.

Do you buy this?

118 lbs & 5'9"?

In one of those internet searches that quickly gets off topic, I ran across this list of reported celebrity heights and weights. I know the camera adds 10 pounds and all that jazz, but it seems like if some of these women actually weighed what this list says, there would be public outcry. Some of the more startling weights are Gisele Bundchen, Katie Holmes and Taylor Swift. I just plain don't believe Naomi Campbell's. Am I crazy? I'm tall and I know that these weights would be positively scary on me.

Actresses
Blake Lively, 5'9", 123 lbs.
Calista Flockhart, 5'6", 97 lbs.
Cameron Diaz, 5'9", 120 lbs.
Cate Blanchett, 5'8", 120 lbs.
Catherine Zeta Jones, 5'8", 130 lbs.
Drew Barrymore, 5'4", 125 lbs.
Eva Longoria, 5'2", 104 lbs.
Gwyneth Paltrow, 5'9", 112 lbs.
Hillary Duff, 5'1", 105 lbs
Jennifer Aniston, 5'6", 110 lbs.
Jessica Alba, 5'7", 118 lbs.
Jessica Biel, 5'8", 110 lbs.
Julia Roberts, 5'10", 125 lbs.
Kate Beckinsdale, 5'8", 115 lbs.
Kate Hudson, 5'6", 115 lbs.
Katie Holmes, 5'9", 118 lbs.
Kirsten Dunst, 5'4", 100 lbs.
Lindsay Lohan, 5'5", 105 lbs.
Meghan Fox, 5'6", 114 lbs.
Miley Cyrus, 5'4", 104 lbs.
Nicole Kidman, 5'10", 120 lbs.
Nicole Richie, 5'1", 98 lbs
Pam Anderson, 5'7", 105 lbs.
Paris Hilton, 5'9", 110 lbs.
Penelope Cruz, 5'6", 109 lbs.
Reese Witherspoon, 5'6", 122 lbs.
Salma Hayek, 5'2", 115 lbs.
Sandra Bullock, 5'8", 110 lbs.
Scarlett Johansson, 5'4", 115 lbs.

Models
Adriana Lima, 5'10", 112 lbs.
Gisele Bundchen, 5'11", 115 lbs.
Heidi Klum, 5'9", 120 lbs.
Kate Moss, 5'7", 105 lbs.
Naomi Campbell, 5'10", 110 lbs.

Musicians
Beyonce Knowles, 5'5", 130 lbs.
Britney Spears, 5'5", 105 lbs.
Carrie Underwood, 5'3", 110 lbs.
Christina Aguilera, 5'2", 100 lbs.
Faith Hill, 5'8", 120 lbs.
Fergie, 5'2", 105 lbs.
Gwen Stefani, 5'6", 115 lbs.
Jennifer Lopez, 5'6", 125 lbs.
Jessica Simpson, 5'2", 120 lbs.
Madonna, 5'4", 100 lbs.
Mariah Carey, 5'9", 140 lbs.
Shakira, 5'2", 105 lbs.
Taylor Swift, 5'10", 120 lbs.