My name is Brie - yeah, like the cheese

Show your personality, one charm at a time

2009-12-14T19:34:00.000-05:00

Not ready to make a bold statement with your work wardrobe? I found a perfect way to insert your personality into your corporate attire, without being too risky and having the CFO look at you like you're crazy for wearing skinny black pants, five-inch high-heeled booties, a jewel-blue silk t-shirt and boyfriend blazer...

Check out Jami Rodriguez for inexpensive, interesting, yet understated charm necklaces. Yes, Jami can create some outrageous and attention-grabbing accessories, but I am partial to her tiny charm necklaces, some of which incorporate taboo shapes, including skulls and tusks.

Pay tribute to your, ehem, extra-curricular college activities with Jami's Tiny Mushroom Necklace:

Or subtly show your passion for music with her Tiny Boombox Necklace:

What's on your Bucket List?

2009-11-20T17:28:00.000-05:00

I don't know about you, but the holiday season always brings forth a boat-load of emotions not felt on a normal, non-November/December day. Not only are these feeling bubbling up and overflowing from my eyeballs, I'll often feel differing emotions at the same time. For example, I can be utterly content as I peer into the decorated windows at Lord and Taylor or Macy's, while feeling completely melancholy, yet excited at the exact. same. time. One minute I am happily decorating my tree, excited as I shop for the perfect Christmas Eve outfit (this year it's a black, wool tulip skirt, and short-sleeved green and black silk shirt with my classy, wedge motorcyclish type black boots), wistful as I remember all of the Christmas Eve dinners we spent with my Poppy who is now deceased, and sad just thinking that I am single during the holiday season for the second year in a row.

So feeling all of this, plus much more, has prompted me to revisit my Bucket List. I mean, I am examining my life via my emotions right now anyway, so why not check out the "Things to do Before I Die" list and see if I can cross off anything.

So here it is. Brie's Bucket List. The things I've done are in black - other ambitions are in white. I know some of these items are not exactly, ummm, I guess the word is moral (i.e. Have an affair), but I think they will all help build character and support my goal of having an interesting life.

So, I ask you, WHAT'S ON YOUR LIST?

Yet another reason I don't eat meat

2009-11-18T10:53:00.001-05:00

This fish is fried, yet still alive! I have a pretty strong stomach when it comes to the grotesque, but this almost had me running down the hall to the ladies' room.

Josh Baskin would love this

2009-11-04T16:35:00.001-05:00

Would you take the stairs?

How to dress like a guy, but look like a girl

2009-11-03T14:58:00.000-05:00

Dude-inspired clothing and accessories for women is definitely hot right now. From boyfriend jeans and military jackets, to stealing a white tee from your main squeeze, all that smells like after shave is gold.

What they (magazine editors and the Rachel Bilson's of the world) do not tell you is that wearing clothing originally designed for men can, in fact, make you look, well, manly. Since we are not all cut from the same paper as Miranda Kerr and Jen Aniston and don't have personal stylists, we can look dowdy in our hip and trendy plaid shirts and converse sneaks.

Here a few tips to help you still look like a sexy woman when dressing like a man:
1. Don't go all man. Wear your boyfriend jeans with sexy pumps or throw on a boyfriend blazer with fitted, low v-neck t-shirt and funky necklace.
2. Yes, this style is lose-fitting. But it's not baggy. You shouldn't look like you are swimming in clothes. If you are, don’t wear the piece or find a great way to fit the clothes to your body. For example, if your man's plaid flannel tee is a large and you're more like a small, roll up the sleeves and throw on a skinny belt, some sexy legging, thigh high, flat, black boots, mascara and shimmery lip gloss. Oh, and don't forget to brush your hair. The look is "hipster chic", not "I need a shower".
3. Be confident about what you're wearing and don't let the look wear you.
4. If you're not sure about the "boyfriend" look, then ease into it. Buy one male-inspired piece at time and, for the love of Michael Kors, don't wear all your dude items at once (see number 1).
5. Follow your fashion instincts. If you think you're going a bit over the top, you probably are.
6. Don't forget to wear some make-up. Wearing your man's clothes isn't an excuse to not touch up your already lovely face. Go ahead and wear pink lip gloss when you're donning the military jacket. And please, (as I said in number 2) don't forget to brush your hair.
7. Accessories will save you from going full on dude. Invest in a great, long necklace, some geode earrings and a big, jade ring - and wear the hell out of them.

This look is all about the balance between masculine and feminine - balance is the operative word. Here are some suggested pieces that I think work deliciously well together:

Newest Obsession

2009-10-29T09:01:00.006-04:00

To those of you who know me, it shouldn’t come as a surprise as I divulge my one kitschy obsession to be owls. Perhaps this fixation with all things hoot-tastic began in 2002, when, while recovering from de-wisdom-teething my mouth, I picked up Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and fell in love with his winged friend, Hedwig. Portrayed in Rowling’s books as undeniably intelligent and as loyal as the family retriever, owls have become designers’ best friend. Their feathery images are slapped on everything from notebook covers (hello Vera Bradley) to mini-dresses (French Connection, you know I’m talking about you). Betsey Johnson has been using the wise owl to inspire her funky jewelry for at least three years; I own a long, gold and black necklace with a large own pendant sporting googley eyes and recently purchased owl earrings from my favorite sample sale website, RueLaLa (thanks Sherry!). Marc Jacobs even created a small purse shaped like these pellet-creating birds. Home designers are also using owl images to inspire some of their designs. From owl-shaped lamps to jewelry trees sporting the outline of an owl, it seems like everyone is wising up and falling in love with these nocturnal birds of prey.

A very noticeable difference

2009-10-28T16:02:00.007-04:00

Dear Readers,

When you first met me, more than a year ago, I was different than I am today. Perhaps the most noticeable (besides an extra 5 pounds that have taken up residence in my boobs, face and belly) was the gradual disappearance of bangs.

September 2008: Blonde bangs are going strong

Mid 2009: Slowly disappearing

After much consideration, I have decided that the bangs must return...

October 2009: And they're back!

Thoughts??

Scare of the week

2009-10-14T10:41:00.004-04:00

With a diet comprising primarily fruits, vegetables, soymilk, Cheerios, whole wheat bread and hummus, it’s no wonder I like to indulge in candy corn, dark chocolate Hershey Kisses and Tasti-d-lite on occasion. While I beat myself up after devouring a fro-yo, I know that things could worse. A lot worse.

Take, for example, the blog This is Why You’re Fat. Its title and tagline (Where dreams become heart attacks) say it all, and its submissions are simply shocking. Snacking on a Strudel Circus Stack may sound like a delicious way to spend 10 minutes of your day, but just think of what “Nutella and strawberry jam sandwiched between two Toaster Strudel Pastries topped with icing, cherry pie filling, whipped cream, sprinkles and a drizzle of honey” can do to your arteries. That’s right – clog them.

If ordering the Fat Bastard Burger with triple beef, triple bacon, triple cheese and caramelized onions sounds like a dandy idea at first, just remember who it’s named after. Yup, this guy:

Please people, be good to your body and it will be good to you. Next time you see something called The Widowmaker on a menu, for the love of God, keep on browsing. One and a half pounds of ground beef, one package of bacon, one package of Italian sausage, a box of hot pockets, and a half of a package of fried onion strips between two pepperoni pizzas topped with Velveeta cheese and marinara sauce may wind up costing your other half 10 grand in funeral costs.

A Penn State Weekend

2009-10-12T16:46:00.005-04:00

I spent my weekend with my sorority sisters at our lovely alma mater, Penn State. One sister flew in from California for the weekend. Another came from Florida. One Pi drove up from a Philadelphia suburb. A Texan flew up and a Connecticutian picked up Cali and I from my apartment in Manhattan. Four of us stayed at my 21-year-old brother's house, a few blocks from campus. Needless to say, insanity ensued when my group of nine met up with my brother and his friends for a weekend of football, debauchery, school spirit, Table Wars at The Phyrst, a giant co-ed sleepover, scary movie night, Pokey Sticks, and tailgating.

Beaver Stadium is one of my favorite places on Earth. Look how beautiful it is:

This picture of tailgaters outside the stadium doesn't do the art of tailgating justice:

Lollipops cure everything - even hangovers and car sickness:

I don't know what I would without these girls. Thanks for an awesome weekend, kids. Miss you all already! You too, brother! WE ARE!

Hello web-world: I'm back in the blog scene

2009-10-08T09:28:00.005-04:00

After many months of blogging silence, I have decided to emerge. Liken my re-entrance to the online world to the birth of a vampire, waking up after three days of transformation...

Okay, that sounds crazy. Nothing particularly transformative has happened since May, at least nothing as drastic and vampiric as what I just wrote, but in a way my step back into the bloglight (yes, that is a bad pun on "spotlight") can count as a step in the right direction after months of aimless wandering and borderline bad decisions. This will all be explained in upcoming posts.

In the meantime, I'd like to share with you these amazing sunglasses:

Seeing these glasses prompted me to actually start blogging again...today. I have been storing up post subjects for weeks now, but nothing lit that fire under my Victoria's Secret clad ass like these glasses. They are hipster-chic, yet sophisticated and I fell in love with them.

Further pushing me to share my fashion ideas and New York city adventures were these shoes:

I saw them in a store window while walking up Madison Avenue last night with my dear friend Stephanie (we strolled from Bowery and Houston to my apartment on 88th and First). How someone can love wooden sunglasses AND Swarovski crystal encrusted pumps at the same time, is a mystery to me. And I am the person that loves them both.

Anyway, join me again, dear friends and fellow bloggers, in my search for the perfect outfit, New York City adventures, my future husband, and, in a very big way, myself.

Do you belong in New York City?

2009-06-16T15:23:00.003-04:00

I do. For now at least. See my result below or take the quiz yourself to see if you are a true-blue lover of N.Y. to the C-I-T-Y.:

DO YOU BELONG IN NYC?
Yes, but sometimes you wish there were a better option.
You do love New York, and you fit in here better than you have anywhere else. You're committed to the city, and you take advantage of all of its amazing food, culture, nightlife and arts. But you have nagging doubts about this relationship. Spend your whole life here? Not sure about that. Sometimes you wonder about that farm in your fantasies or even just a smaller city. But in reality, you know there's nowhere better.

I know it's been a while...

2009-06-09T09:19:00.002-04:00

...and I apologize for my month-long absence and will fill you in on what has transpired since early May, but for now, you have to watch this video. It's been years since Zack Morris has made a new appearance on network television, and I know most of you readers had a crush on either Zack or Slater (or both), so I thought I would share this with you...

Sixth Sense

2009-05-05T12:40:00.002-04:00

It's not exactly as stylish as an iPhone, but this device is infinitely more useful...

V.D.I.Friday

2009-04-24T14:45:00.000-04:00

Van Damme It's Friday!

Bob and James breakin' it down

2009-04-23T09:15:00.001-04:00

For the tap-enthusiasts in us all:

I'm famous!

2009-04-17T10:11:00.003-04:00

Okay, I'm not really famous, but I am in the most recent edition of New York Magazine! I went to a photo shoot for New York newbies at Chelsea Piers a few weeks ago. The feature story, called "Arrivals" interviewed 160 people who followed their dream to move to New York - I was one of them. Here is a photograph of the shoot, which was fully of energy, excitement, camaraderie and hope, that I couldn't help but leave feeling recharged and more in love with the city. While there, I spoke with some amazing people. I chatted for nearly an hour with one couple, a music duo who, after traveling the country for 15 years, decided to settle in the East Village. They bought their studio apartment a few months ago and are living amid boxes of records and countless instruments, and they love it. A man named David just finished writing a book about Jewish delis, and Brian thought he was just visiting a friend in Brooklyn for a few days; he has been here for four months. My story isn't as glamorous, but still, I'm living the dream.

CNN breaking news?!?

2009-04-17T09:15:00.007-04:00

As a way to stay informed about the world's big news stories, I get CNN Breaking News headlines e-mailed to my work e-mail address. Most headlines fed to my brieann.szatkowski@company-Brie-works-for.com address are journalistically considered "breaking news" and about things that could possibly impact my day as a PR/communications professional. However, occasionally I receive e-mails from CNN and just roll my eyes. For example, here is a "breaking news" headline I received at 2:15 a.m. EDT: Just in case the image's text is too small for your eyes - the headline is "Ashton Kutcher is first to reach 1 million Twitter followers in contest with CNN." I understand the whole "social media breakthrough" that is Twitter, but come on. Is Ashton's milestone really something that should be considered "breaking news?" Because he reached the 1 million mark as part of a contest, does this mean he has really accomplished something noteworthy? Was this contest stupid? Discuss.

And we're officially fans

2009-04-10T12:42:00.005-04:00

I love live music. There is nothing that gets me off my ass and on my feet more than a rockin' band, especially if I am familiar with the songs or know one/some of the musicians. While I would not call myself a music snob (I listen to a huge variety of music genres and am an equal opportunity listener), I would also not call myself a "fan" of many bands. I like many bands, but to label myself as a "fan," I have to personally be committed to that band's success, believe in the talent of the members and have a desire to see that band go far. Saying that I am a fan of XYZ band is saying a lot.

With this in mind, I want to officially declare myself a fan of Nine Circles. The Jersey-based band is booking gigs throughout New York and New Jersey, and its calendar is filling up fast.

Last night, Jackie and I headed downtown to Crash Mansion to see our new fave band rock out in the basement venue. After throwing back some shots with bassist Steve Morris, and chatting for a minute with guitarist Tom Spears, Jackie and I assumed our standard position - right next to the stage - and rocked to Nine Circles' tunes. The band's next album comes out on May 19.

The guys:

The girls:

And me:

Free panini night

2009-04-07T11:11:00.002-04:00

Last night, Jackie and I spent a delightful hour at Vero, a restaurant and wine bar on 53rd Street at Second Avenue. A few weeks ago we learned that every Monday night, Vero will feed you for free if you order a cocktail, beer or glass of wine! Always in the mood for wine and desperate for a free meal, Jackie and I followed our source (Shecky's) to the popular midtown bar and were pleasantly surprised. Vero is a cross between an intimate bar and hoppin' restaurant. The clientele reminded us of, well, us - middle class, young New Yorkers. Jackie's "Sexy Sangria" and my glass of Shiraz were delicious and moderately priced ($11 each), but as we were each awarded a free panini with our beverage purchase, we were more than happy to part with less than $15 (including tax and tip). Our pressed sandwiches provided the perfect balance between bread, cheese, vegetables and (in Jackie's case) meat; and they tasted like more.

Another instance of spontaneous dancing

2009-04-01T21:32:00.001-04:00

Did you know?

2009-03-31T09:09:00.002-04:00

David, from The Geek Whisperer, posted a video that Jackie sent around via e-mail yesterday afternoon. I have seen similar videos before and they always seem to surprise and excite me. Check it out here...

Newest obsession

2009-03-24T12:32:00.003-04:00

For us city girls, running from the subway to Starbucks to work to lunch to the gym in what seems like a monsoon is commonplace and something with which we must quickly learn to deal. While tiny, fashionable umbrellas are easy to find and a staple in most young women's totes and hobos, galoshes, even the Burberry and Coach designs, are still monstrous, hard to carry and leave something to be desired. But Shuella is making unglamorous and bulky galoshes something of the past. This company makes thin, waterproof galoshes that slip over your shoes to keep this season's Prada wedge safe from rain and subway scum.

Visit http://www.shuella.com to purchase a pair of these inexpensive (they are currently on sale for $35) and compact shoe umbrellas.

Newest obsession

2009-03-20T11:50:00.003-04:00

How unbelievably awesome are these tights? They are not quite fishnets and not quite tights. I got them on sale for $10 at www.urbanoutfitters.com and paired them with a red shift dress, black vest and long chain necklace.

Real Housewives of NJ??

2009-03-19T09:45:00.002-04:00

Thanks to a tip from my friend Laur, I found out that the next season of the addictive and trashy (hellooo Real Housewives of Atlanta) reality show series "The Real Housewives of..." on Bravo is set in... NEW JERSEY! I am so excited for the premiere, which occurs on Tuesday May 12 at 11 PM ET. There is a special sneak peak on Tuesday April 7 at 11 PM ET. The description cracks me up... "The hair is big, but the drama is bigger in the newest installment of the "Real Housewives" franchise, The Real Housewives of New Jersey."

For me, the Real Housewives of Orange County is and always will be the best. The New York season is ok so far. The Countess Luann is pretty entertaining with her high-and-mighty routine. The Atlanta season was like a joke. Kim and all the other ladies were so pitiful, even in comparison to the other seasons which display materialism and pettiness at their best. I watch the marathons while at the gym and I am so excited to see my home state in all its glory!

A bad week: Natasha Richardson still in critical condition

2009-03-18T10:33:00.004-04:00

Can you believe that Natasha Richardson might die? While her medical status has yet to be confirmed, reports are surfacing that Ms. Richardson is brain dead from a seemingly minor ski accident where she appeared fine immediately after falling. She is currently in Lenox Hill Hospital (which is directly across from my UES subway stop at 77th Street and Lexington Avenue). I hope she pulls through, but the more I read, the less hopeful I am.

Update: Ms. Richardson died this evening in Manhattan. Her tragic death was a huge shock for friends and family.

A tribute to Fred

2009-03-18T09:36:00.004-04:00

Hayley and I go way back. So far back, actually, that I think Hayley has spent about 12 hours of her life not knowing me. She was born two years and 10 days after I was, and, as my parents were best friends with her parents, I met her before she even turned one-day-old. Hayley and I grew up next door to each other and were best friends from the moment we met. And when her mother and my mother gave birth to boys only six weeks apart, Tyler is Hayley’s little bro and Brett is mine, we were thrilled to add them to our ever growing mob of upper-High Bridge children.

In the 1980's, Hayley’s Nana and Papa (High Bridgeans Jackie and Steve) opened an ice cream parlor, which was later expanded into a diner-like restaurant, in our tiny town about two miles from our homes. I can’t remember NOT eating ice cream from Gronsky’s Milkhouse. As soon as we each turned 14, Hayley and I began working at the Milkhouse. As official Gronsky Girls, we scooped hundreds of ice cream cones for little league ball-players from the ball parks down the street, families of four and families of 10, local teenage hooligans and even a Madonna-look-alike.

Additionally, when we entered high school, we waitressed in the restaurant every Sunday morning. Each week, we alternated being “head waitress,” who would have to come in at 6:00 a.m., and “assistant waitress,” who arrived an hour and half later. Every Sunday morning, she or I would arrive at the Milkhouse at 6:00 a.m. to find her Nana and Papa already there, warming up the grill, making the first batches of coffee, organizing newspapers and cooking the famous Gronsky home fries. And Every Sunday morning, when we pushed the squeaky door open, Hayley and I would see Fred the truck driver/meat man/bus driver sitting at the end of the counter with baseball cap on his head and a mug of hot coffee in between his hands. Fred was an awesome guy and was one of the few older men we actually liked. He would chat with us all morning as we put out milk for coffee, refilled the sugar packets and helped Jackie cook before the cook, her son Todd, took his place behind the griddle. Fred always remembered what you talked about the week before and would follow up on our stories and tales of being high schoolers and, later on, college students. He was an early morning fixture in the Milkhouse and both Hayley and I found comfort in his presence and the easy conversations we held. Fred was also one of the only Gronsky’s Milkhouse patrons to never mix up me and Hayley (apparently, we look like twins) so he got extra respect from us.

Fred died early this morning. He had a heart attack while driving a dump truck and crashed into the side of a building in Flemington, N.J. Needless to say, Gronsky patrons are mourning his death, as are Hayley and I. Actually, we are more than a little upset. He will be missed, especially by his fellow Gronsky customers and employees. Rest in peace, Fred.

Rest in Peace

2009-03-18T09:31:00.002-04:00

This morning I got some very sad news. One of my favorite customers at my family's restaurant, Gronsky's Milkhouse, passed away his morning. He had a heart attack while driving a dump truck and crashed. I just saw him this Sunday when I was in New Jersey visitng my family. We all called him Fred the Meat Man because, well, he sold meat. It is not an overly imaginative name, but we give little nicknames to people because we often do not recognize or remember last names and its so much easier to subscribe descriptive monikers. Anyway, Fred was such a nice man. He would always ask about everything going on in my life and he would be so happy about everyones accomplishments. I will miss him a lot and will be dissapointed that he will not be there when I return home.

In other sad news (sorry to be such a downer today - I will try to post something fun later), my uncle Todd's beloved dog Winston passed away a couple of weeks ago. He was a very loving, friendly, and cute dog. His friend Bradford, who is pictured in the photo below with Winston (with the dark brown fur), misses him alot. I hope everyone else's day is not as depressing!

Summer pressures = healthy improvements

2009-03-17T10:40:00.007-04:00

In exactly two months, Jackie and I will be rappelling down waterfalls, scaling up a volcano and kayaking through mangroves in beautiful Costa Rica. And month after our Costa Rican adventure, we will be sunning ourselves like iguanas on rocks in the Hamptons. These summer activities are synonymous with skimpy clothes and bathing suits, which is enough of a motivating factor for any woman to want to lose a few pounds.

It is with this in mind that I registered for Self Magazine's 2009 Self Challenge. This program allows you to track your eating habits and workouts online for free. There are also tools and resources to help you lose those L-Bs and tighten those abs and gluts. While my vegetarian and active lifestyle is generally very healthy, I've recently accumulated a few extra pounds on my 5' 3" frame and would love to get rid of them ASAP. The food and exercise logs are key for me as they allow myself to really examine what I eat and how efficient my activities are in burning those kcals. I've only been enrolled in the Self Challenge for a week, and I am already making minor changes to my lifestyle. For example, I have recently added more strength training to my workouts and I have started eating more during the day and less in the evening. I'll keep you updated on my progress and will let you know when (positive thinking here!) I reach my goal (drop a dress size/lose 5-7 pounds).

Marc Jacobs bags rock my world

2009-03-15T17:26:00.003-04:00

A yeah, like the cheese reader forwarded me a link to this divine Marc by Marc Jacobs bag! The color is perfect for spring and summer and the adjustable strap lets you change your look quickly and easily. You can get this bag, and many other gorgeous Marc bags, at luxury department stores, think Neiman Marcus, Barney's and Saks, or Marc Jacobs retail stores.

P.S. Keep the links and fashion suggestions coming!

Britney's Circus

2009-03-14T13:29:00.004-04:00

Last night, Hayley and I (with my mother and her uncle) attended the Britney concert at the Prudential Center in Newark. The show was, in a word, AWESOME! Britney looked fantastic, her dance moves were classic Britney, as were her costumes. It took her a few songs to get used to being on stage - she looked and acted very nervous in the beginning - but she quickly became comfortable and really got into the show. My mom took a lot of video and here are a few for your viewing pleasure...

Perez Hilton filmed an introduction, which played before Britney's first song, "Circus:"

Britney getting "In the Zone:"

One of my favorite songs, "Everytime:"

"Slave for You" was so hot:

And she closed with "Womanizer:"

Thanks, mom, for taking so many great videos!

The concert was worth every penny of the $500 my mom and I paid for tickets! And if you think that was a lot, the girl sitting next to me flew all the way from Melbourne, Australia just to attend the concert! Crazy? Maybe a bit extreme, but I'd probably do the same thing.

She Rocks

2009-03-13T15:27:00.001-04:00

A new favorite!

I'm moving to California!

2009-03-13T10:52:00.004-04:00

Okay, so I'm not, really, moving to California. However, after reading this article, I am tempted to pick up and move to, what I think is, the nation's strangest state.

Democratic State Assembly member Tom Ammiano thinks mariguana could be the answer to California's economic misery. According to the article, "Can Marijuana Help Rescue California's Economy?," Ammiano introduced legislation that would legalize pot and allow the state to regulate and tax its sale. Pot is California's biggest cash crop, responsible for $14 billion in annual sales. The state's tax collectors estimate the bill would bring in about $1.3 billion in revenue each year.

Will marijuana actually be legalized in California? I highly doubt it will happen this time around. But one can only hope. That state is a financial disaster.

Jersey and music and shopping, oh my!

2009-03-13T10:10:00.007-04:00

This week has been full of events we just couldn’t seem to say “No” to.

Let’s start with Saturday…
Hoboken’s official St. Patty’s Day parade and bar crawl. We met up with a couple of Jackie’s high school friends and roamed around the streets of Hoboken before deciding to pay the ridiculous $20 cover charge for Hennessy’s Public House, an Irish bar near the PATH train station. We danced around for about an hour, bought a $6 Bud Light (in a green bottle, of course), and caught a free t-shirt some ancient bartender threw into the crowd. When you do the calculation, we really each paid $26 for ONE beer. Yea, I know, it’s pretty silly—but we had to experience a Hoboken bar during the city’s annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

After finishing our overpriced beer, we went a few parties along Washington Street, Hoboken’s main drag. At one party, where we met up with Brie’s friend from grad school, we hung out on the balcony that overlooked Washington, hooted and hollered at some bag pipers and got them to serenade us with their Irish tunes. Not only did they put on an impromptu performance for those of us on the balcony and 800 block of Washington, but, per our request, they entered the party (at which we only knew two people, who didn’t even live there), formed a circle in the living room and played for the entire party!

Furthermore, we were probably the only two people in all of Hoboken who stayed sober that day. We walked around, enjoyed the 60 degree weather, had lunch at Pita Grill (which we highly recommend) did a little shopping, and ate some delicious Tasti D-lite (with rainbow sprinkles of course!). Yes, we were berated by some of our friends for not pounding down the lager, but it was worth it to remain in a sober state.

Because of the drunk antics of 99.9% of Hoboken’s crowd this “St. Patty’s Day,” next year’s parade/festivities might be cancelled. Supposedly, a girl and a guy were having sex in a window as the parade went by and some jerk spit in a fireman’s face! That’s classy Hobokenites. However, we had quite the time experiencing Hoboken sober and chatting about the ridiculousness which occurred all around us.

And Sunday:
David (the Geek Whisperer) and the two of us spent a lovely Sunday afternoon wandering around Midtown and planning for our upcoming trip to Costa Rica. We munched on fruit and David sipped on a chocolate shake from the Shake Shack, while spreading out our Costa information in Madison Square Park and chatting about our possible itinerary. That evening, the three of us met up with Dan, someone Jackie knows from high school, for a diner dinner before heading to a Southside Johnny concert at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill.
The show was ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. David said that it was the most fun at a concert he ever had and we might have to agree! The two of us are used to being the only peeps rocking out and dancing around during live musical performances, but this wasn’t the case at B.B. Kings. The dance floor was filled with Southside Johnny lovers, all of them dancing and singing along to his awesome tunes. We were, by far, the youngest people there (most of the other concert goers were old enough to be our parents and grandparents), but we didn’t feel like we stood out at all.

The performance was killer, but the encore was even better! Steven Van Zandt (Little Steven) of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band (and founding member of the Asbury Jukes in the mid-70’s) joined Johnny on stage and the two had an impromptu jam sesh. Johnny has an amazing stage presence and really engages the audience, often taking requests and chatting with fans in between songs.

We should also mention that B.B. King Blues Club & Grill is a superb venue. It’s small and intimate with great acoustics and a rad line-up of performances, including a weekly Saturday “Beatles Brunch” which we are dying to attend!

Can’t forget about Wednesday’s Girls Night Out:
On Wednesday night, we left our (non-existent) boys at home to attend Shecky’s Girls Night Out, a giant sample sale with nearly 100 vendors! It was heaven. The tickets are free to www.sheckys.com visitors, or you can pay $30 and get a goodie bag filled with $100 worth of swag. Needless to say, we obviously had to get the goodie bag!

We spent nearly four hours wandering around Terminal Shops, visiting vendors, sipping on free cocktails, snacking on chocolate fondue, and rummaging through unique jewelry and clothes. We spent a bit of money (we are two girls who love fashion), but we got some killer jewelry, dresses (never anything we can wear to work—we are also two girls who love to play!), and unique Indian tunics (incredibly beautiful!). Below are pictures of some of the amazing things we purchased and links to the websites.
Get this dress, and many others, at www.vfishdesigns.com.
More Indian tunics for sale at www.lishkarausa.com. They will fit each piece to your body, and, if you are in the NYC-area, will hand deliver to your home.

XOXOXO,
Jackie and Brie

Sad news

2009-03-13T10:06:00.003-04:00

Just kidding! There is nothing sad about tonight's BRITNEY CONCERT!

If U Seek Amy

2009-03-12T14:59:00.002-04:00

NEW video from Britney! Her new controversial song now has a new controversial video! Can't wait to see her TOMORROW.

P.S. Will be posting more soon. Have been extremely busy with school/work/job searching.

Newest obsessions

2009-03-11T11:48:00.003-04:00

I just received the ultimate compliment. A co-worker came up to me and simply said, "I want your closet. Can I visit you and just look at your clothes and shoes?" Today is a great day.

Just in case you are interested, some of my newest purchases include the following lovely pieces from Urban Outfitters:

The Mexican army is not a'head' of the drug game

2009-03-11T10:06:00.007-04:00

Five human heads were found yesterday in ice chests left beside a road near Guadalajara, Mexico. They appear to be the latest indication of drug cartels fighting for supremacy in the Central Mexican state of Jalisco.
To make matters worse, the Mexican army, which has taken a lead role in attempting to thwart narcotraffickers, is hurting; nearly 150,000 soldiers have deserted the army in the last six years. The deserters left their post in search of higher paid jobs.

Why can't we all just get along?

50 YEARS OF RESISTANCE 1959-2009

2009-03-10T18:06:00.005-04:00

While wondering the streets of NYC during my extremely late lunch break today, I happened to walk through hundreds of pro-Tibetan protesters. With slogans such as “U-N-O we want justice, “Tibet 50 years of resistance,” “China out of Tibet now!” ringing loud in the air, the protesters marched through the city streets, a majority wearing t-shirts saying “Tibet 50 years of occupations, genocide, agony” and carrying Tibetan flags. A majority among them began a fast for 50 hours, 50 minutes and 50 seconds to mark the completion of a half-century of the Tibetan uprising against China.

Today, March 10, marks the 50th anniversary of the Tibetan Uprising of 1959, which sent the His Holiness the Dalai Lama into exile. It also marks one year since protests swept across the Tibetan plateau in 2008, prompting a brutal crackdown.

Tibet was an ancient country with unique culture, history, and identity when it was invaded by the People’s Liberation Army half a century ago. Tibet has changed dramatically since. The invasion not only claimed more than 86,000 lives, cost its people the freedom to practice their culture, religion, and language, but has also seen Tibetan culture eradicated completely.

In September 2006, my alma mater hosted His Holiness himself as part of the Distinguished Speakers Series. UB designated one full day as a “special day of learning” and regular classes were suspended, allowing students and faculty to participate in learning opportunities and take advantage of the free tickets to his speech. As a focus for his visit, he chose the theme “Promoting peace across boarders through education,” which has been one of his own personal missions in life. The Dalai Lama had an unmistakable aura about him, an impression one gets of great serenity and good will. He is also utterly simple, a man of great warmth, and good humor—I must say His Holiness is quite the funny man (with a great laugh).

The Dalai Lama has devoted his life to the defense of human rights and the promotion of peace and mutual understanding among the peoples and counties of the world. He travels extensively, seeking to advance the causes of peace, human rights, and religious understanding.

In a statement made today, the Holiness himself stated, “Our aspiration that all Tibetans be brought under a single autonomous administration is in keeping with the very objective of the principle of national regional autonomy. It also fulfils the fundamental requirements of the Tibetan and Chinese peoples.”

He also stated, "I always say that we should hope for the best, and prepare for the worst. Whether we look at it from the global perspective or in the context of events in China, there are reasons for us to hope for a quick resolution of the issue of Tibet. However, we must also prepare ourselves in case the Tibetan struggle goes on for a long time. For this, we must focus primarily on the education of our children and the nurturing of professionals in vatious fiends. We should also raise awareness about the environments and health, and improve understanding and practice of non-violent methods among the general Tibetan population."

I applaud His Holiness for his culmination of an effort over years to reduce the ignorance and intolerance that divide nations and people.

Boat made of plastic bottles

2009-03-09T10:49:00.003-04:00

You would have to be crazy to want to sail a catamaran across the Pacific Ocean. But that is exactly what adventurer and environmental activist, David de Rothschild, is going to do in April...and in a boat made of recycled plastic bottles. Except for the metal masts, everything on the 60-foot vessel is made from recycled plastic. The boat, named the Plastiki, is expected to leave from San Francisco, stop in Hawaii, Tuvalu and Fiji and finally dock in Sydney more than 100 after leaving the U.S.

The Michael Kors bag that saved my life

2009-03-05T15:57:00.006-05:00

Isn't this Rebecca Minkoff oversized clutch just about the most beautiful thing you have ever seen? And it has a chain strap which you can use if you're tired of clutching the clutch. I'm in love.

Also, I am seriously beginning to think that I need to:
a) Win the lottery
b) Get a higher paid job
c) Move to a borough where the rents are cheaper
d) Marry/Find a rich man to subsidize my serious addiction to expensive handbags. Did you see that in my previous post I did not include a handbag in my bargain look? That's because I'm a handbag snob. I rarely buy cheap bags, it's just my thing. Cheap shoes...bring them on! Inexpensive jewelry...I don't even want a natural diamond engagment ring, bring on the lab-created rock. Bargain accessories...that's what street vendors are for. But cheap handbags...well, they make me so sad.

Let me tell you a little story...

Last year, around this time, I was broke. I was attending graduate school full-time and was paid a living stipend, which, frankly, was not nearly enough to keep me outfitted in that year's trends. With some strict budgeting, I was just about able to keep myself from drowning in debt. Near the end of the winter, I saw this beautiful Michael Kors bag in Marshalls. I wanted that bag more than anything in the entire world. I couldn't sleep at night because I spent hours trying to find a way to buy this bag.

I told my dearest mother about the new love of my life and we visited it one day. I picked it off the shelf and just carried it around the store for hours until I had to place it back in its temporary home. The next day, my mother called me and said she had a surprise. I just knew it was that bag, I just knew it! But it wasn't. It was some ugly, black, functional, fake-leather bag that was a fraction of the cost. I cried non-stop all weekend. My boyfriend at the time (who I lived with) and my work friends thought I was crazy, but, you see, it wasn't just about not having that bag. It was what that bag represented. The ugly, black, functional, fake-leather bag was about settling for something less than ideal, something I didn't really want. I carried the ugly, black, functional, fake-leather bag for a week. It was the worst week of my life. I felt defeated and ugly, just like that stupid bag. My mood was the bleakest it had ever been, and I seriously contemplated lying down on the NJ Transit train tracks, or at least throwing the bag in front of a moving train.

My lovely mother picked up on my dwindling will to live and bought me the Michael Kors tote a few weeks later. I had never been so happy in my entire life.

Fashion and Wal-Mart do mix

2009-03-05T14:42:00.005-05:00

If you read any popular newspapers (or their corresponding websites) I'm sure you know by now that retail sales are sliding for stores across the country, everywhere but at Wal-Mart. I have been boycotting Wal-Mart for the best few years, mostly because I hate the retail giant for being awful to its employees and the world community in general. However, just because I'm not a Wal-Mart shopper, doesn't mean I can't do some research to benefit those of you in search for inexpensive, yet stylish clothes and accessories. Yes, Wal-Mart does have some pretty decent options for the budget-consious fashionistas out there. I mean, if it's good enough for Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen (who have a children's clothing and accessories line here), the it's good enough for all of you! Here's a look I threw together quickly, to illustrate Wal-Mart's possibilities.

Cute, right? And you can get all this for less than $100! Just because we are all anxious about the economy, doesn't mean our style has to suffer. Just be on the lookout for deals elsewhere and be creative with what shoes you pair with what dress. Now's the time to take some chances and mix it up.

Just because...

2009-03-04T17:20:00.004-05:00

...Hayley and I are going to see Britney's Circus in nine days!
Her slammin' body is back, as are her outrageous costumes and dance moves. Can't wait!

Photographs courtesy of www.people.com.

Newest obsession

2009-03-04T16:48:00.002-05:00

These Jeffrey Campbell 'Dakota' boots in whiskey might just be my newest obsession. They are short enough to not be a problem for my big calves (the result of years of dancing) and the perfect color for spring.

Mayor Bloomberg is a sarcastic SOB

2009-03-03T11:55:00.004-05:00

A quote from our lovely mayor regarding parents who complained about yesterday's Snow Day:

“If you got up this morning, looked outside and the question didn’t come to you right away, hmm, I wonder whether or not school is going to be open today, and you didn’t know enough to call 311, I would suggest another day in school’s probably a good idea,” he said. “I mean, c’mon.”
- Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg Picture from www.nytimes.com.

Lil Miss Social Butterfly

2009-03-03T10:49:00.004-05:00

As Brie mentioned, I was the “social butterfly” this weekend.

Friday night I went to happy hour with some of my new coworkers. We went to the Watering Hole on 19th St btwn Park and Irving. The crowd was a little ehhh, however, they serve free unlimited French fries and wings during happy hour! They also have karaoke! So of course I got up there and sang my usual, “Love Shack.” And I rocked (not really! But at least I had fun!!)

Saturday morning I had brunch with the dude in Murray Hill. The place was quaint, and the food amazing! I had pancakes with a mound of fresh fruit on top! Incredible. They also served us a basket of assorted, amazing bread. I was in heaven (I hate to admit it but I LOVE carbs!)

After, I met up with Brie and Hayley in Union Square to do some shopping. And of course I fell in love. With yet another pair of beautiful shoes, so I HAD to get them! They are v. tall Calvin Klein pumps with an almond toe, with a stacked wooden heel with koi fish scales. They very sophisticated silhouette with a look that is unique and natural. (Let’s not kid ourselves, I gave myself the excuse that I can wear them to work and out on the town). Aren’t they beautiful??!!

Brie is absolutely correct—Bubble Lounge is the perfect place for some sexy GNO, but I would leave it at that. The place was cute with an ok atmosphere, but I wouldn’t spend all night there.

After grabbing a drink with those 2 beautiful blondes, I headed to PS450 on Park Ave South between 30th and 31st St. The bar was way to crowded for my liking, and I had to wait in line to get in. That is a no-go on my list. However, I sucked it up and waited because it was a friends 30th bday celebration and another friends last minute happy engagement (they got engaged the previous night!). My friends and I danced around to alright music, but were bumped and prodded and elbowed in the process. We tried to keep a smile on our face, but that didn’t last long.

Overall my weekend was good. Met up with some amazing friends, had some good food and drinks along the way. And wore a cute new dress and shoes (always a plus!)

The Sassy Kathy is engaged!

2009-03-03T09:55:00.003-05:00

My good friend and fellow blogger, Kathryn (a.k.a. Sassy Kathy), got engaged last weekend! Congratulations Kathryn and Jared!

Our sexy night at Bubble Lounge

2009-03-03T09:19:00.004-05:00

Hayley Anne spent last weekend with me in the Big Apple. Our itinerary included dinner at Prohibition, an inexpensive yet tasty brunch with my sorority sisters at Zucchero e Pomodori on Second Avenue and 75th Street, a run in Central Park, shopping in Union Square and drinks with Jackie at Bubble Lounge in Tribeca. Look how cute we are (although I still kind of look like a sick person, as I was sick all week with the flu):
Anyway, we spent a few sexy hours in Bubble Lounge, the chic and trendy champagne bar in Tribeca. Unsurprisingly, drinks were expensive, but worth it. Jackie and I ordered a glass of the Phillipe Prié Brut for $15 and Hayley had a glass of white wine. Jackie left early as our little social butterfly had another party to attend, but Hayley and I ordered another round of drinks, the complicated kind this time, and a panini*, which was absolutely delish. After munching on our sandwich and downing our complicated drinks, a London Fog for Hayley and Raspberry Caipirinha for me, we headed out into the cold New York night in search of some good dance music (Britney, of course). If you're in the need for a sexy GNO (girls' night out) and don't mind spending some hard-earned cash, Bubble Lounge is a good option. Just be prepared to have a minor heart attack when scanning the champagne menu, as there is a $4,000 bottle listed, the Ruinart "L'Exclusive" Christophle 2000.

*I think we were the only women in the entire bar who ate something. "Normal" Manhattan women seem to exist only on wine and black coffee.

Newest obsessions

2009-03-02T15:15:00.007-05:00

With spring just around the corner and buried under only a few inches of easily meltable snow, I am starting to crush on new items for my apartment that will brighten up my tiny home and bring the spring indoors. Some of my newest obsessions include:
This new duvet from Pottery Barn...
These wall flowers from Urban Outfitters...
My favorite owl lamp from Anthropologie...
If only I had access to unlimited quantities of cash. Sigh. I guess I will have to do with opening my windows and letting the fresh spring air fill my haven.

The Facebook face slap; but it doesn't have to be

2009-02-26T20:12:00.005-05:00

Every time I log onto Facebook, I notice that at least one of my "friends" is hitting a grown-up milestone. Whether it's a status update saying my grade and high school travel buddy is moving in with her boyfriend, a college friend changing his status to say 'married' or an acquaintance posting pictures of her new baby, it seems like everyone is growing up and taking the requisite steps into adulthood.

Approximately one year ago, I was on this path. I had already moved in with my boyfriend, was (I thought) on the way to exclaiming "Yes!" to a diamond ring and a few tiny years away from inhaling obscene amounts of folic acid and those other vitamins and minerals women need when trying to conceive or when they are already preggers. And while I chose to end that life, a life of being-the-woman-I-thought-I-should-be, I find that I still crave some of it. I crave the closeness of a serious relationship, knowing where my next sexy night will take place and with whom I will be with, the security that comes from knowing that he would never leave me, because I know that N would never have left if I hadn't ended the relationships myself early last spring. However, I also know that putting an end to that half-decade-long relationship saved me. In that relationship, I had, essentially, given up on my life.

Yet, I miss it. I miss having a man that adores me, because N did adore me. Looking back, I see that v. clearly. But in leaving him, I was able to fall in love with J. And while short, that relationship revived me, it pushed me out of my comfort zone and into the world of the living again.

Sure, my relationship status on Facebook says 'single' and there are no pictures of me with my baby and I've no boyfriend to move in with...not yet anyway. But I'm a believer and I believe that all that will happen to me. Maybe it won't be this year or even this decade, but I have faith that, with the help of my good friends, I'll somehow meet the perfect guy. Perhaps I already know him. Perhaps I won't meet him for another few years. But he's out there, waiting for me, too.

LENT

2009-02-25T15:54:00.002-05:00

So, this year I have decided to give up celebrity gossip websites and magazines for Lent. It is going to be very hard for me. I know that that this type of "news" does not matter and that most of the people mentioned in the reports are completely insane or ridiculous, but for some reason I can not stop reading about them! I am addicted to Perezhilton.com and DListed.com. I am not posting the links because I will be tempeted to click on them! I mostly like seeing what people are wearing, but I do admit that I like to learn about all the drama. Whenever I am bored I always look at the sites, but no more! I will stay on task and resist the urge to click! I wonder what I will do with all the free time that I will have??

Also, I went to Mass today to get my ashes and they always do the Gospel about not showing off how much you suffer when fasting and not to pray in public, but to do it in your own home so as not to brag about how religious you are being. What I don't understand is if they want you to keep your religion private and a personal thing, why do they mark a cross in ash on your head? I understand and agree with the reasoning of the ashes; to remind us of our mortality and that we will return to the ashes when we die, but our souls will continue to live, hopefully, with God, but I feel like it contradicts the Gospel chosen especially for this day. Maybe the ashes are there as more of a personal reminder of our mortality, but I can not help noticing that it is a particularly public way of showing that you are Catholic on a day when we are reminded to not flaunt our religion.

Get some DailyCandy

2009-02-25T11:36:00.003-05:00

So I am obsessed with this website called DailyCandy. It’s a free daily e-mail dedicated to an area of your choosing. If you sign up you get the latest scoop on fashion, food, and fun. You just simply put in your email, choose an area, click if you’d also like to receive emails from DailyCandy Travel and/or Deals.

The daily editions available are Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, London, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philly, San Fran, Seattle, and D.C. Weekly editions include Deals, Travel, Kids, and Kids Local.

You will receive info on hot new restaurants, stores, events, and lifestyle. Each week, DailyCandy also sends out a “Weekend Guide,” which details things to DO, SEE, EAT, and SHOP in your area. It’s like getting an e-mail from your quirky, eclectic, always in-the-know BFF.

I have wandered across some incredible new restaurants, gallery and store openings, designers, sample sales….pretty much everything and anything you can imagine through DailyCandy.

I recommend it to everyone! To sign-up or just check it out, click the link below. I promise you won’t be disappointed!

http://www.dailycandy.com/

My Yorkville neighborhood

2009-02-24T20:41:00.003-05:00

I woke up this morning and could not move. Literally, I was aching so bad I could - not - move. It took all my energy and yoga-like breathing to summon the courage to reach two feet to my right to pick up my cell phone and call out of work.

Several hours, and many small movements inching my body to the edge of my bed, later I was able to hobble into the kitchen, make toast and tea, and plop myself on the couch, where I did not move until 2 p.m. At this time, I decided I was well enough to venture outside to do laundry and pick up a copy of my lease at the leasing office on E. 78th Street.

As a woman who does not ingest chemicals (ie - medications) on a daily or even weekly basis, the cough medicine I took hit me good and I found myself wandering aimlessly around my neighborhood - along the East River and through John Jay Park. John Jay Park is, simply, so cool! There is a baseball court, handball courts (which I will use to hit tennis balls) and a pool! There is a cute community pool one block away from my home and I am so excited to hang out there this summer! And there is a gorgeous running path along the East River which runs along the entire length of the river. I can't believe it took getting sick and taking cough suppressant to get me to wander around my neighborhood.

I love PSU

2009-02-24T19:53:00.000-05:00

What THON is all about...

2009-02-24T14:18:00.001-05:00

Two remarkable blues musicians

2009-02-23T12:55:00.002-05:00

Sunday night I went to see blues legends B.B King and Buddy Guy perform at the Beacon Theatre with my dear friend David (the Geek Whisperer).

Buddy Guy took the stage first and played classic blues, along with some killer solos. It was incredible. Then he announced he was bringing out a 9-year old kid to play along. The kids name was Quinn, and he was prodigious. Not seeing him on stage, one would have thought he played guitar for decades. Buddy and Quinn shared the spotlight for a couple songs, then Buddy put his guitar down and let Quinn take it away as lead guitar (Buddy was vocals).

After an intermission B.B. King’s Blues Band took to the stage and played two songs before B.B. King came on stage. There was a chair up front and center, where he just sat and jammed for the rest of the evening.

B.B. King wears his crown as the King of Blues exceptionally well. At age 83, he is still light on his feet, singing and playing the blues with relentless passion. Time has no effect on B.B., other than adding to his wide array of fans, and making him more popular than ever. As a B.B. King “virgin,” I can attest to this quite well.

B.B. King spends half of his time on stage playing belting out incredible lyrics, strumming on his guitar like no other, and the other half interacting with the audience. He is quite the funny dude. He loves woman, and he is not afraid to let you know.

B.B. brought out Buddy and Quinn halfway through his set. The three of them jammed out to a few tunes, and then B.B. finished a phenomenal set.

The concert was incredible, however, the audience wasn’t so great. I don’t know about you, but I cant sit still listening to music, so forget about live music. I tend to jam out to anything and everything. So just as usual, David and I were bopping around and moving our head to the tunes. It seemed to me like we were one of the few in the whole theater to be any what amused by the music we were listening to (a usual for me). Both Buddy Guy and B.B. King have incredible showmanship mind-boggling musical talent. So how can you not??

D-A-N-C-I-N-G

2009-02-23T12:49:00.002-05:00

Here is a clip of the beginning of the THON 2009 Line Dance...

...and the end.

National Museum of American History

2009-02-22T21:33:00.002-05:00

This weekend my good friend from Rutgers, Amanda, came to visit. I had only been to the National Museum of American History (one of the Smithsonians) once since it opened late last year and for only a few minutes. So, we decided to go on a Saturday, which was our first mistake. It was entirely too crowded, even though it is a huge building. The ventilation was terrible and it was extremely hot, which surprised me because it has been recently renovated. We had to wait in lines for most of the exhibits, including the first ladies and pop culture exhibits. The first lady exhibit is pretty good. There is a display of many of the inauguration dresses worn by first ladies ranging from Martha Washington to Laura Bush (Michelle Obama's is not yet on display). We then had to wait in a pretty long line for the pop culture exhibit and it is so small! It is like half of a small room and consists of only a few items, some of which are not even interesting. I was really disappointed in the lack of interesting displays and the very small exhibits. It seems that there is a lot of space in the building, but they are not utilizing it. I assume they are not finished with the renovations, but as of now, it is not worth visiting. There are so many interesting moments in American history, but none of them are featured! The National Gallery of Art is my favorite museum in D.C. The interior is gorgeous and relaxing and the collections are eclectic and can keep you entertained for hours. I am so lucky that I live in a city where I have the opportunity to visit all these educational and entertaining venues! There is something new to do everyday.

THON raised...

2009-02-22T17:40:00.002-05:00

$7,490,123.87 FOR THE KIDS!

Congratulations dancers and fundraisers!

Real time picture from THON

2009-02-20T22:46:00.005-05:00

I'm heading up to Penn State tomorrow morning to go to the Penn State Dance Marathon. My brother is volunteering at the annual fundraiser and just texted me this picture:

There are about 700 dancers and thousands of student volunteers and supporters that gather in the Bryce Jordan Center one weekend every February to dance for 48 hours For The Kids! More details and pictures from THON to come, so stay tuned!

Jealous? You will be soon enough

2009-02-20T16:23:00.005-05:00

I hate to rub it in, but this is a photograph of the location of my next adventure...Costa Rica. Gorgeous, isn't it.
Jackie and I (with our buddy David, the Geek Whisperer) are going to Costa Rica in May, and this is a picture of Monteverde, which is located north of San Jose. I wish I was there. Right. Now. Like right now. Jackie and I are already buying some cute clothing items for our pending vacation to paradise. We are quite impatient.

Are you totally Super J?*

*Super J means "jealous" in mid-twenties-trendy-blonde-girl speak. Just FYI.

A conversation with my mom via e-mail

2009-02-20T15:57:00.004-05:00

Me: Apparently J is not the happy, go lucky man I once knew. I have insider information that he has become bitter and mean and not-fun.
Mom: He is not the J you loved...
Me: Where did he go?
Mom: He is in a tomb under his Quaker primary school – his spirit never grew older than the last age he was when he went there.
Me: Probably.
Mom: You will find a nice/patient/all-loving and generous guy. He’ll probably be Catholic, not Quaker.*

*J was not Quaker, just went to a Quaker primary school that taught the kids with the Quaker, hands-off, non-grading, teach-what-the-kids-want-to-be-taught ideals. He has (in my opinion) severe and negative effects from going to such a tiny school. My mother is a public school teacher. And a Catholic.

NOTE: My mother is usually an open-minded woman, but when it comes to men who have hurt me, she can be brutal. It's the Jersey Girl in her, I think. At least, I hope it's not genetic...

What happened to the courtship stage?

2009-02-19T15:10:00.003-05:00

As I mentioned in my "Hola!" post, I am in love with love. Who woulnd't be??! According to many, I'm the victim of falling fast and hard for the "not so good" guys, which always seems to end in heartbreak and a substantial loss of self-confidence. About 8 months ago, my almost 4-year relationship ended, and I was devastated. Now, I realize that it was the best thing for me. I've grown, realized my own strengths and weaknesses, and have started to become my own woman again (although I do admit, I still have much room for personal growth—but don’t we all?).

Recently I started "dating" an incredible guy. After coming out of what many would call (actually, what everyone would call) "a very unhealthy 4-year relationship,” this scares me. Trust, communication, patience, honesty, opening up and letting someone new into your life. And then comes the “what are we” issue.

Many of my close friends are jumping into extremely serious relationships and drowning themselves in them. Now, don't get me wrong, there is absolutely nothing wrong with a serious relationship, but a connection takes time to build. I’m hearing from a few, the what I like to call “relationship timeline.” The “you’ve been talking/seeing each other for 3 weeks now, so your totally bf/gf.” I’m not going to lie to you, I did ask this new interest what he thought would be appropriate to tell people we were, if the question ever arises. And we had a deep conversation about it.

I’m learning that there is no timeline for personal relationships—it’s all person dependent. Relationships come naturally, if you let them. Rushing into a commitment can work for some people, but in most cases it does not work out in the long run. It can be very detrimental. I think when couples rush into a relationship, they stay in the infatuation stage for a while, and when that is over, what else do they have? Yes, there’s still the sexual attraction (but there always is anyway). But what about the little things? What about the deep, undying connection that we as humans seek to form?

As women, we tend to overanalyze situations. And sometimes I can be the queen of overanalyzing. The “he doesn’t want to see me tonight, therefore he must not be interested.” I’m learning that if he wants to spend most of his time with you….he’s interested. If he shoots you a random text or call just to say hi….he’s interested. Maybe our overanalyzing tendencies are why we want to rush into the “bf/gf” status? Why though? If he tells you he’s into you and doesn’t want to talk to other girls or see other girls….please try to trust him, b/c he’s most likely interested ladies.

The words "boyfriend" and “girlfriend” hold a lot of weight to them. It implies exclusivity, dedication, commitment, patience, honesty, and trust (as well as an incredible amount of everything else that comes along with it!). All of which are scary things to everyone, especially to someone who has not had many relationships or has spent most of their relationship history in damaging relationships.

With all that said, as I mentioned, I did just have the “what are we” talk. And we decided to say “we’re dating.” But we are both a tad bit old fashioned, and would like to call it “in the midst of courtship.” Right now we are enjoying spending a lot of time together, getting to know eachother, learning eachothers quirks and personalities. Why put stress on that? This has been an amazing 3 weeks or month or whatever it's been (remember, there’s no timeline to relationships!). And when we hit the next “what are we” roadblock, we’ll address it. But for now, I’m completely ok with our “courtship process.”

So my advice to anyone in the same boat as me: Breathe. Don’t fall for the “not so good guys.” Don’t drown yourself. Be a little old fashioned. Enjoy the “courtship process.” I’m learning it can be quite enjoyable, spectacular, fun, and everything amazing (oh, and that you can find a rather phenomenal dude in the process).

One of the greatest choreographers of all time...

2009-02-18T22:17:00.003-05:00

I am currently watching a two-hour-long special on PBS called Jerome Robbins: Something to Dance About. Robbins was one of America's most amazing choreographers, working with Broadway, Hollywood and New York City Ballet. What is so cool to me is that I did some of his choreography when I was in ShowKids Invitational Theatre, being a child actor in a community theater group. So Robbins' dances are close to my heart.

Sunday brunch

2009-02-18T10:17:00.002-05:00

This past weekend a couple friends and I decided to go to brunch. While roaming around Astoria, it’s hard not to notice the wide array of restaurants along Broadway as well as 30th ave. We decided on Balu, located on 30th ave and 38th Street, and we LOVED it! It’s only been around for about 8 months and from the looks of it, is going to be around for many to come.

Balu is a restaurant/bar/lounge with a phenomenal atmosphere—very classic yet laid back at the same time. The walls are painted different shades of purple and white. Dark purple curtains hang from the windows, white couches line the outer walls, and light purple silk taffeta drapes the ceiling. The wait staff was incredibly friendly and the food was outstanding. We ate chocolate pancakes, a prosciutto and mozzarella panini on ciabatta bread, and a grilled chicken wrap with avocado, tomatoes, and roasted peppers. Corn bread muffins are served before your meal, as well as an unlimited cup of coffee (and for 3 coffee lovers, we were in heaven!). And best of all—brunch comes with unlimited mimosas, bellinis, or bloody marys! Who could pass on that?! Oh, and did I mention, brunch is only $12!

We were also told that at night Balu gets pretty crowed! We’re going one night soon to check out the night atmosphere.

In the spring and summer months Balu lines the side walk with tables, so customers can spend their afternoon people watching, eating, drinking, and passing time with their friends.

I’ve decided to make Sunday brunch my new ritual. What’s a better way to end one week and start a new week?? I give Balu 5 stars and would recommend it to anyone exploring Astoria.

Worth it or a waste of time?

2009-02-18T09:31:00.007-05:00

I have been slacking in providing descriptions of places I have been. Sorry. So I thought that listing and categorizing my recent culinary and recreational experiences would be best. Here goes....

Worth It

I went to Alta in the Village for dinner last week with five others. The upbeat vibe, tapas menu and delicious drinks (including its version of Sangria) provided the perfect environment for a larger group of twenty-somethings.

The PIT (Peoples Improv Theater) provides some low-cost laughs. The small theater hosts improv and sketch comedy acts. I went last week to see Jackie’s friends, Sam and Ben from Audience of Two – the $10 I parted with to see the show was well spent as my abs got a great workout I laughed so much.

Vino Wine Bar at Second Ave. and 66th Street is cheap and delicious. I went on a Valentine’s Day date with my friends and we all walked away well fed from the restaurant’s small plates and slightly buzzed by our reasonably priced yet delicious bottle of wine. At $20 per person, you can’t beat it.

Vol de Nuit on W. 4th and 6th Avenue is a Belgium beer garden that introduces its clients to some pretty cool brews. A covered entry tunnel takes you off W. 4th so the bar seems like it’s hidden and exclusive. I had Lindemans Framboise, a raspberry flavored beer that is more sweet than hoppy. It’s pretty pricey, my beer was $8, but worth the splurge.

Crumbs is a cupcake restaurant. I don’t think I need to say anything else, except maybe, “I would like to endorse the carrot cake, pumpkin, chocolate chip fudge, Reese’s and German chocolate cupcakes.” I’ve been here twice, once with a group of girls (we all shared our cupcakes, hence the long list of cupcakes I loved) and once with my mom.

Time Wasters

The Slaughtered Lamb pub on W. 4th Street might be a cool and creepy bar (there are fake skeletons locked in fake cells in the basement restaurant, which is referred to as “the dungeon”) but don’t bother eating here. The service was slow, food lackluster and waitresses ditsy. Although, my male friend who accompanied me to dinner loved the waitresses’ outfits, which I can describe as “spooky Hooters.”

The Living Room Lounge in the W Union Square is your typical, pretentious, high-end, hotel bar. I had a scotch on the rocks (the 12-year Glenlivet) for $12, which was not too pricey. However, the uptight clientele looked at my group like we were lepers; we all came from work and were dressed appropriately so I’m not sure why the other patrons found us so offensive. It could be our lack of trust funds and our apparent happiness that was off-putting.

Boring lunch

2009-02-17T13:42:00.003-05:00

For the most part, I enjoy variety in life. I love trying new things, taking chances and making changes to better my tiny world. I like being spontaneous and have a problem saying "no" to random outings and other shenanigans. However, my lunch, for the most part, is the same - every - single - day. I change up the type of hummus, wrap, greenery and fruit, but nearly every day this is what my lunch looks like:
Can someone please take me out to lunch?

The International

2009-02-17T12:08:00.003-05:00

This weekend we saw "The International" starring Clive Owen and Naomi Watts. It was an interesting and pretty sobering concept - a large and powerful bank sells small arms to revolutionaries in civil conflicts and profits (in many ways) off of the debts that are accrued. I hope that I explained that correctly! I had a difficult time paying attention the entire time as it was a pretty slow moving film. I kept thinking it was ending and then it would keep going. Matt really enjoyed it, but I thought it could have been shorter and the characters could have been developed more fully. They seemed pretty one-dimensional. I would wait to see it when it comes out on DVD because it seems like a combination of other movies I have already seen.

Hola!

2009-02-17T10:13:00.002-05:00

Hello “Yeah Like the Cheese” readers! As the newest contributor, let me introduce myself…As Brie mentioned, my name is Jackie, and I am a pharmaceutical copywriter in New York City. This is my first time writing for a blog, and I’m extremely excited and honored that Brie asked me to be a contributor to hers!

Currently, I live in Astoria—and love it! To tell you the truth, I live in the same building that I was raised in, so it was home to me the second I moved back in.

A few of my favorite obsessions are heels (well, really I have a passion for shoes of all kinds), conversation hearts and candy corn, wandering aimlessly around the streets of New York, art museums, music, and obviously—my friends.

I’m a tiny girl with a fierce personality—and by saying fierce, I mean it in a good way! I’m a little preppy, hippy, and punk rock. I love to laugh. I love to travel. I love wine and cheese. I love love. And most of all, I love life.

Brie and I are in the midst of planning our trip to Costa Rica, so I’m sure you will be hearing about that, as well as our many adventures!

Between Brie, Hayley, and myself, I’m sure we will be able to keep you entertained, informed, and amused with our own personal thoughts and experiences of current events, life, and culture in New York City and D.C.

Newest contributor

2009-02-17T09:06:00.002-05:00

Hey everyone! I'd like to welcome to the Yeah, Like the Cheese writing staff, Ms. Jackie Vance!

[Wild applause]

Jackie is a 23-year-old phamarceutical copywriter, currently living in Queens. She and I have quickly become partners in crime during our nights out in the City and is on my short list of good friends. Jackie accompanied me to the Nine Circles show a few weeks ago and we have plenty more excursions planned for the upcoming months.

After five centuries, beheading is back in style

2009-02-17T08:50:00.006-05:00

I thought the last woman ever to be beheaded by her husband would be Anne Boleyn. But apparently beheading is back in style.

The founder of an Islamic television station in New York state aimed at countering Muslim stereotypes beheaded his wife last weekend.

Valentine's Day Outings

2009-02-15T19:17:00.002-05:00

Last night we went to Palette, which is in the Madison Hotel in downtown D.C. We had a pre-fix meal with wine pairings, which I have never done before, so I was looking forward to it. The salad course was a goat cheese, beet, and pecan salad with one of the best pinot grigios that I have ever had. I forget the name of the wine, but it was from Oregon and it was so easy to drink and went great with the salad. For the entree I had chicken, which was very juicy and good, with bread pudding and spinach. It came with chardonnay, but it was pretty smoky, which I can appreciate, but prefer crisp tasting white wines because they are easy to drink and really refreshing. The cheese course was not spectacular. There were only soft cheeses and one tasted like pizza cheese - not so good. My dessert was great - it was a soft cake with cream and strawberries. Matt had the chocolate cake, but there was too much of an orange/bitter taste to it. Overall, the food was good, the atmosphere was pleasant and modern, and the service was great. We had a very good time.

Afterwards, we went to the Donovan House Hotel restaurant, which is a couple blocks away. It is not officially open yet, but they have the bar open with some temporary tables and lounge areas. I was not impressed. Maybe it will be better when they officially open, but they did not have good drink - my G&T was pretty weak and Matt did not like his Cabernet. We heard one of the waiters say that the same chef who cooked at Tao in Las Vegas is going to be the chef there, so maybe it will improve. I will give it another chance when it officially opens. It was a fun night and it was exciting to check out new places!

Just because...

2009-02-15T11:17:00.002-05:00

I get to see her live in 44 days!

House of cards

2009-02-13T09:30:00.006-05:00

Click here to view excerpts from CNBC's House of Cards, a two-hour-long documentary that reviews the sub-prime mortgage crisis in America. Keep in mind that David Faber is out to blame anyone but the American public for the economic crisis. While investment bankers, lenders, and the Fed (among others) all contributed to the sub-prime mortgage crisis, American consumers are also to blame. We've been borrowing like crazy, believing that the wealth bubble we were living in for years was never going to break. And it did. We can't pay back our mortgages (why people were signing mortgages and loans for $500K when making less than $50K/year is beyond me) and have a lot less wealth. So keep in mind, when watching House of Cards, that the financial crisis is all our faults.

Key lesson: Live within your means. Don't buy a Lexus if you can't afford a Lexus. Yes, those Dolce shoes are to die for, but if you can't part with $700 in cash, then don't buy them! Ask yourself, "Do I really need a new cell phone or is my old Motorola RAZR doing the trick?" Visit www.timeout.com to learn about free/cheap activities in your city...

Who thought working in finance could be entertaining?

2009-02-12T15:28:00.003-05:00

I am usually logged into Investopedia.com all day, every weekday. I use this website purely for it's financial dictionary since I am by no means a finance girl (yet) and because I work in the finance industry. Investopedia is the love of my life since it helps me sound like I know what I am talking about at work and assists in some intense translations, like this: the consequent rating implications are likely to be negligible due to robust transaction structures and subordination build-up. WTF does that mean? Investopedia will help me decode this cryptic message.

Also, Investopedia gives me a "Quote of the Day" and "Financial Term of the Day." Today's quote and term are both entertaining...

QOTD
"If past history was all there was to the game, the richest people would be librarians."
- Warren Buffett

FTOTD is especially wonderful, as I think it describes me and Hayley: RECESSIONISTA!

What Does Recessionista Mean?
A person who is able to remain stylish during times of economic hardship. A recessionista can shop on a limited budget and still manage to be up to date on the most current fashions. A recessionista does not let a bad economy, inflation, or a strong recession damage his or her wardrobe and opts to search for sales and shop at thrifty discount stores instead.

Investopedia explains Recessionista
The term recessionista derives from a combination of the words recession and fashionista. It is used to make light of a bad situation and demonstrate how people can maintain their lifestyles in times of struggle.

And so the genius said...

2009-02-12T13:56:00.000-05:00

iRevolution

2009-02-10T14:12:00.002-05:00

I have been reading this blog by Patrick Meier - a researcher who is investigating the ability of individuals to be self-sufficient, self-determined, and facilitate self-survival through information communication technology, which can include the internet, cell phones, SMS texting, and more. This includes the ability of individuals to develop and form non-violent uprisings and create change (digital activism). The way this is done is through bottom-up use of technology. For example, Ushahidi, is a crowdsoucing mapping platform that provides real-time information on situational awareness in conflict situations. The basic premises of Ushahidi ("testimony" in Swahili) is that citizen journalists in Kenya submit SMS text messages to a central organization that maps out the reports. The map can help management groups mitigate the crises.

I have talked about using SMS text messaging before to report violence in schools, but this is an entire movement - giving individuals the freedom to do their own surveillance, be citizen journalists, and create change through social uprisings. Cell phones are very prevalent in rural societies and are becoming even more common place. Through organizations such as InSTEDD and The Global Research In.itiative, disease surveillance and agricultural improvements can be accomplished through the individual use of technology.

This is an amazing use of technological advances to improve the lives of people around the world and it is an extremely fascinating area of study.

A night full of music

2009-02-09T21:46:00.005-05:00

Holy fun weekend Batman! With the exception of reinjuring my back yesterday (the result of dragging 50+ pounds of laundry up six flights of stairs) and having to organize my tax stuff, this weekend pretty much ruled. I explored some new venues and got to spend time with new and old friends.

I already told you all about Prohibition and Bourbon Street, both places I visited on Friday night. On Saturday, after running for hours (back on track with training, hooray!), I met Jackie for what promised to be a night full of live music and dancing on Bleecker Street. We embraced our punk rocker personas and rocked out at the Nine Circles show at The Bitter End. I went to high school with the band's bass player, Steve, and when I got the invitation from him (which said, "come see us play, we don't suck) to come see the show, I couldn't say "no!"

Jackie and I were graced with the presence of someone I have known since I was seven, fellow High Bridgean, Chris Romash. Here we are rocking out.

Oh, and by the way, we were the only ones going crazy, dancing around, singing along with the lyrics and screaming Steve's name. While many patrons, mostly men, seemed entertained by our antics, we did make a few enemies...mostly other women. We expected that would be the case.

Bitter End is an amazing venue to see your favorite local band. It has been hosting bands since 1961 and calls itself “New York’s Oldest Rock Club.” The only downfall, to me, is the lack of open space. Tables and benches are crammed into all available space near the stage, so it is not a place conducive to rocking out, which, translates into a lack of energy created by the audience for the performing bands to feed off of while playing. Other than that, the vibe is more rock than hipster, and inviting to those not completely comfortable in lesser, seedier venues.

After an awesome show (I am now a devoted Nine Circles fan), we met up with some of Jackie's high school friends and headed over the Planet Rose karaoke bar on 14th Street and Avenue A for some good ol' karaoke fun. Jackie and I signed up to sing Love Shack, but the bar closed before we could belt out "bang bang bang on the door baby..." which we were pretty disappointed about. The place was a dive, with corny zebra print couches in the "karaoke room" which was in the back of the bar. There is no stage, and the lights are on low, so it would feel less like a performance when jamming out to your favorite songs and more like singing in your bedroom using a brush as a microphone like you did when you were a kid (or three nights ago if you are me). So if you are looking for a good place to test your vocal skills before heading to the popular karaoke spot, The Watering Hole, where you are prominently on display in the middle of the bar, head to 14th and A, and leave the hairbrush at home.

And the winner will be...

2009-02-09T16:32:00.003-05:00

...not this guy.
According to BBC News, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak will be one of the 13 competitors on the new season of Dancing with the Stars. He's a looker, isn't he ladies?

The roster includes other C/D-list celebs including Jewel, Belinda Carlisle, Lil' Kim, Shawn Johnson, Steve-O and Denise Richards. I'm putting my money on little Shawn Johnson - she already has dancing skills and her partner will be able to do some crazy lifts with this Olympic gymnast.

You have options PSA

2009-02-09T10:36:00.003-05:00

I helped my brother make this Public Service Announcement for his Sociology class last semester. We got an "A."

He's Just Not That Into You

2009-02-08T10:25:00.003-05:00

First of all, I have to give Matt credit for going to this movie with me. It is most definitely a chick flick. I thought it was ok. There were scenes that were really slow moving, but it was generally entertaining. You cringe at the desperate actions of one girl as you curse the actions of a cheating husband. You definitely are invested in the lives of these men and women, but it just does not flow as well as it should. I thought that the acting was pretty good - especially Ginnifer Goodwin; I really liked her character. There are many lines in the movie that you have said time after time to your friends and you will laugh at the recognition. I had heard that the movie is depressing, but I do not think so at all. I thought the end was satisfying. I would recommend seeing other movies, such as "Slumdog Millionaire" and "Benjamin Button" before I would see this.

Just a thought on the new partnership

2009-02-07T12:27:00.003-05:00

I just read Hayley's post from this morning and it appears as if we are going to be great blogging partners!

If you have any suggestions on places for Hayley and I to check out in D.C. or New York, let us know. Also, while I can't speak for Hayley, if you have any venue/exercise class/shop/meeting you are curious about, I'll do the heavy lifting, check it out for you and report back.

Penn Staters' night out on the UWS

2009-02-07T12:21:00.003-05:00

What happens when five or more Penn State alumni go out drinking?

The school cheer happens, that’s what.

And last night I was out with an eclectic group of about 15 Penn Staters, so it was inevitable that someone (I figured it would be Ian as he is always the tallest of the group so his voice carries across the crowd very easily) yell “We Are!” at some point during the evening. My prediction was true, down to the Penn State obsessed individual who began the cheer, our friend Ian, the tall guy from Survivor Palau which aired in 2005.

We began our evening with $.50 Bud Lights at Bourbon Street on 79th and Amsterdam. The bar was an undeniable Sausage Fest - so much so that the bouncer refused to let men in after a while – whose clientele seemed to include every frat boy from Columbia University. The median age of our group was 26, so we were, on average, four years older than the next oldest patron. We spent about 30 minutes there, screaming over the music, fighting our way to the bar, and dodging the pool-players pool sticks (yes, there was a pool table, and yes, it was nearly impossible to play because of the sheer number of bodies crammed into the tiny space). And so we left the land of the college boys and headed over the 84th and Columbus to Prohibition.

Prohibition was definitely more “our” scene and it was here that we entertained other patrons with “We Are” “Penn State.” The clientele ranged in age from 22 to 50, but the age range worked. The décor is based on the Prohibition-Era style of the twenties and early thirties, but has a definite sophisticated, minimalistic feel.

The Eastside Mix played covers to some of the world’s favorite songs including Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing” and Stevie Wonder’s “Superstitious.” The dance floor was crowded, but the weaker dancers were pushed to the outskirts of the crowd, leaving the partiers with control of the floor. Eastside Mix was one of the best cover bands I have ever seen play. Three singers, two men and one woman, had their own singing style and Broadway-worthy voices. Everyone in our Penn State group either attended or organized last month’s Hope Gala and we all identified Eastside Mix as a potential band to entertain at next year’s gala.

As I rarely drink, I am not sure about the price or quality of alcoholic beverages at Prohibition, but the atmosphere alone is worth the visit. Although, I did read some reviews about Prohibition’s menu, and it appears as if the restaurant/bar’s food is fresh and moderately priced. I think I will take Hayley here for dinner when she visits in three weeks. Check back in March for a review of Prohibition’s dinner.

Art and Soul

2009-02-07T08:58:00.002-05:00

Last night, Matt and I went to the really swanky and modern bar, Art and Soul. It is close to the Capitol on New Jersey Ave. There are huge black and white paintings of Martin Luther King Jr., Margaret Thatcher, and others including the newest addition - Obama. The environment is upscale, but it is still comfortable; you do not feel as though you are in a museum. It draws a pretty prestigious clientele. Matt saw a Senator there last night. We did not eat there, so I cannot comment on the food, but the drinks were fine. We both had wine and they give a pretty small serving size, but it is very good. I would recommend it for a nice date; it might be a little too formal for a girls night out.

We tried to go to "He's Just Not That Into You", but it was sold out! Maybe we will try to see it this weekend. I am interested in the ensemble cast and how they will interact with each other. Happy Weekend!

Newest obsessions

2009-02-06T16:22:00.008-05:00

I am so loving this organic chocolate right now! It's called Endangered Species Chocolate and 10% of net profits are donated to help support species, habitat and humanity. I buy one bar a week and that is all the chocolate I am allowed to eat that week. The flavor I am slowly savoring this week is Dark Chocolate with Goji Berry, Pecans and Maca. Delish.

How is this transition for you: One minute I'm helping to save animals (by buying socially acceptable chocolate), the next I am telling you about this snakeskin clutch with which I am obsessed. I saw it last week in H&M (so it is FAKE snakeskin, alright?) and am hating myself for not purchasing the second biggest clutch I have ever seen.

I am also crushing on these Theory flats. Can I justify spending $200 on a pair of shoes when I am spending half of my salary on rent, cable and groceries? Moments like these make me wish I had a sugar daddy...

Waiting for my weekend to begin

2009-02-06T15:56:00.004-05:00

I'm at work right now, blogging in between assignments and requests to edit newsletters (which is something I seem to be doing a lot of this week), and I realized that I never really told you all what it is that I do with my life 50 hours each week. Without going into too much detail, I am an internal communications specialist at a financial ratings agency at World Trade Center. This means that I manage the company's intranet website, write newsletters and executive communications, plan employee events and Town Hall meetings, and, well, write and edit more than I'd really care to admit. My job may sound boring to some of you, but I love it. I am constantly chatting with employees and am "in the know" about most publications and events before the rest of the company, which totally rules.

So while I mostly love my job, today I am just ready to get out of here! My cousin, Kris, is coming to New York from Chicago for a meeting. She arrives tomorrow and leaves next Wednesday and I am staying with her at the Waldorf all weekend/next week! As you can image, when you are looking forward to something, the days have been dragging by. Here I am, being impatient and ornery:

At least I look cute today in my white shift dress, black vest, gray pearls, black stockings and black pumps with rockstarish metal studs.

Another great thing about my job is the view. Here is what you see when you look out of windows on the southwest side of the building - the Statue of Liberty is the tiny speck in the background.

I have another hour to go before I can even think about leaving my office. Then the weekend can begin! Stay tuned for some write-ups of a few venues I will be visiting this weekend, including The Bitter End, Bourbon, Libation, the Waldorf Astoria, various shops on Fifth and Madison, and (saving the best for last) the laundromat.

Cutting calories can boost memory

2009-02-05T16:03:00.002-05:00

According to a study conducted at the University of Munster (what an awesome name for a school - it's like Monster - hahah) in Germany, women who cut their caloric intake by 30 percent not only lost weight, but increased their scores on verbal memory tests. As if we needed another reason to cut down on the amount of pastries and fried foods we eat - heart disease isn't reason enough?

Obsessed List

2009-02-05T14:12:00.008-05:00

I am done working for the day and decided to make a list of a few random things that I am currently obsessed with. It changes pretty much everyday, so this captures my very fickle tastes...

I love this furniture! This picture is from the Madison Hotel in downtown Washington, D.C.
I really like the fact that the furniture fits into the pretty traditional style of D.C. with an edge of modernity. The contrast of the white and the dark wood in the chairs in the background kind of gives off a tropical vibe, as do the red palm-tree like print of the foreground chairs and the paneling of the wood on the tables. I would love to decorate like this because it is understated, but still evokes sophistication and exoticism. I love it! And it looks even better in person! Matt (my BF) and I are having dinner at Palette in the Madison on Valentine's Day. I am excited to have a drink in this gorgeous lobby/lounge.

I am not a huge fan of the Cruise family. Of course, their daughter Suri is super cute, but I do not like that they publicize every minute of their day-to-day activities. That being said, I think Katie looks amazing here. Some people may not like the color combination that she is wearing, but I think that she pulls it off. Her hair and make-up are amazing and I love the details of the dress. It is so hard to find something that is different, but not OTT (over the top - my British relatives use that abreviation, so I think I am "in the know" when I say it). I love the interesting beading on the top and the pattern on the skirt. If I were wearing it, I probably would have gove with a dove gray belt, but she took a chance. I enjoy finding different, but still classy and interesting pieces and Katie has definitely found one here!

I don't know how many of you "twitter", but if you do, make sure you follow me (Hayley_Anne). I do not update as much as I could, but I do enjoy reading other people's updates. It is one of the most useful tools that I have to stay on top of current events. I follow a bunch of news sources and get the latest headlines so that I do not have to constantly go to the websites and search for new updates. Plus it's a great way to keep track of what is going on with your friends. Matt updates his constantly, so you will always know where we are!

That's pretty much it for now... Will keep updating on the current obsessions!

Greetings!

2009-02-05T11:58:00.005-05:00

Hello "Yeah Like the Cheese" fans! Brie has generously let me post on her blog. My old blog was super fun and I really enjoyed writing it, but I did not post as frequently as I would have liked. So, now I am a contributor here and I hope that between the two of us we can keep everyone entertained (most likely while they are supposed to be working!).

Brief introduction... My name is Hayley, as Brie mentioned, and I am a student at George Washington University where I am pursuing my Masters in Public Health in Epidemiology. I am interning at Georgetown where I am doing a policy analysis of open source intelligence use by the WHO. I am currently looking for a job for when I graduate this May. I live in D.C., currently on the Hill. I love living here because it is a young, powerful, vibrant, but livable city that never gets boring! The picture to the left is myself, Sarah (my roommate and high school friend), and Brie when she came to visit.

I am currently on my lunch break from doing my research at the Library of Congress. Tonight I will be indulging in one of my newest obsessions... "The Tudors". It is a very scandalous and exciting portrayal of King Henry VIII and his parade of marriages, affairs, and beheadings. I will head over to my friend Laur's new apartment in Arlington, VA to view the rest of season one.

P.S. There is a guy sitting near me who is chewing SO loudly with his mouth open. It drives me CRAZY when people do that. I can't even eat my own food, which is very rare for me!

Introducing Hayley as my newest contributor

2009-02-05T09:44:00.003-05:00

So one of my best friends, Hayley, is now my first contributor to Yeah, Like the Cheese! She will be reporting on events and happenings in the Washington, D.C. area, as well as providing commentary on fashion, style and health.

Here we are during our Night-Before-Thanksgiving outing, fueled by pink champagne and G&Ts.

Tips from the geek whisperer

2009-02-05T08:59:00.002-05:00

Do you hate your friends' long-ass voicemail recordings? I know I don't have time to listen to a one-minute excerpt from their favorite song from the 80s and often don't leave a message when confronted by 55 seconds of "Footloose" (even though I love that song) and 5 seconds of "I'm not here, so leave a message." The Geek Whisperer (my friend David) provided a tip on how to skip these lengthy messages and go right to the beep. He also posted a link to a website which houses more cellphone tricks.

Alleged zombie attacks spreading across U.S.

2009-02-05T08:43:00.003-05:00

According to my Metro newspaper this morning, the alleged zombie attacks I reported on last week have increased, or so some hackers claim. Pranksters in Illinois and Indiana hacked into electronic road signs to post "Daily Lane Closures Due to Zombies" and "Raptors Ahead - Caution."

I understand that those signs are there for a reason, but come on, these pranks are pretty hilarious! I am waiting for this hacking knowledge to spread to Manhattan. Actually, if you know how to do this, let me know. It would be worth the $250 fine to get caught after posting a bogus message about zombie attacks. By the way, if you love zombies as much as I do, rent Shaun of the Dead. It's a great comedy/horror film.

Snowboarders take over Manhattan's LES

2009-02-05T08:14:00.003-05:00

Olympic medalist, Shaun White, and other professional snowboarders will show off their sweet moves this afternoon in Manhattan's East River Park. Red Bull erected a 90-foot ramp in the city's LESish park and beginning at 6 p.m. tonight, 16 world-class snowboarders will compete for a cash prize (yeah, I know, like they need it). Red Bull Snowscrapers will use jams by Anthrax, Black Gold and Valiant Thorr (all of which will take the stage and perform live) to serenade the extreme boarders.

The event is free and "doors" open at 3 p.m. today, February 5. If you can't make it to the competition, visit RedBullSnowscrapers.com to watch it live.

If you are not into just watching some big-headed, yet very talented, snowboarders shred down a ramp, East River Park (FDR Drive and Houston Street) will also host Winter Jam NYC on Saturday, February 7 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Along with live entertainment by Apollo Run and Dujeous (among other bands and musicians) Winter Jam will feature a 70-foot long Snow Flume for sledding, a winter snowfield with snowshoeing and cross-country skiing, a snow sculpture contest, a Warming Hut with free samples from N.Y. State farmers and producers, and performances from the high flying Skyriders. This is free, too, so all it will cost to check it out is a subway ride.

Current emotion

2009-02-03T17:13:00.002-05:00

~ ~ ~ No explanation needed ~ ~ ~

Sad day

2009-02-03T12:59:00.002-05:00

Today is a sad sad day. My beautiful black boots are injured. I searched for these lovely boots for years and years, only to have them be a part of my life for three months before punking out on me. Hmm, sounds vaguely familiar...

Everyone loves pot...

2009-02-02T17:00:00.003-05:00

...even Olympic gold medalists! Well, one of them does anyway. Our favorite record-setting swimmer (Michael Phelps, duh) recently admitted to smoking pot (gasp!) when a picture surfaced of someone that appeared to be Phelps taking a hit off a bong. He confirmed that yes, it was him in the picture, and yes, he was smoking the reefer. Hey, it could have been worse. He could have admitted to being on 'roids or undergoing stretching to make his arms the freakishly long length they are. It's okay, Michael, I forgive you. Now let's get married.

Why?

2009-02-02T16:16:00.002-05:00

Why on Earth do I say "Buh Bye" when ending all of my work-related phone conversations? I hate it and yet I cannot stop myself. I sound like a 59-year-old businessman. Sigh.

Nearly invisible tats

2009-02-01T19:33:00.004-05:00

I was chatting with a few friends yesterday about my decision to add to my body graffiti. I was bouncing some ideas off them, trying to decide what I would permanently have inked behind my right ear, when one friend mentioned a photograph he saw of a black light ink tattoo. So we did some research and found this:

How creepy is that?!

Zombie attack

2009-02-01T19:28:00.003-05:00

Two electronic road signs near the University of Texas were hacked into and programmed to say "Caution! Zombies Ahead!" All I have to say is... amazing!

Jcrew.com mystery solved!

2009-01-30T15:35:00.002-05:00

I reported earlier this week that jcrew.com was having some rather annoying technical difficulties. A diligent Yeah, Like The Cheese follower informed me that, according to the Chicago Tribune, jcrew.com was malfunctioning because of President Obama! After inauguration, traffic to the site increased because the First Daughters wore JCrew coats on their dad's big day.

Change is good...

2009-01-30T15:26:00.002-05:00

I am in the process of making a few changes to my blog. Obviously, the look has been altered. More changes to come...