Something happens and I'm head over heels, I never find out until I'm head over heels...

With April quickly approaching, I am looking for new mini-challenges.  Any thoughts?

As for March, the mini-challenges were not the most successful.  Once it started getting nice out, I wore heels to work everyday...until last Friday when I managed to face plant down the Times Square subway stairs.  Riding the stairs on my shins during rush hour in front of a full platform managed to bruise both my shins and my ego.  Maybe I will need to get over my stance on commuter shoes.

Re: the books, my next American classic was going to be "To Kill a Mockingbird" but I couldn't get past the first two pages without taking a nap (this happened twice).  So instead, I made an executive decision to start in on Typhoid Mary by Anthony Bourdain.  Seems juicy so far.

Who wants to be right as rain, it's better when something is wrong...

While picking up groceries at Sunrise Mart, I got the jones for a snack.  They were out of one of my favorites - 'happy turns', a rice cracker with a sweet/salty powdery coating that manages to hit the spot.  I decided to take a risk and try something new.  KA-RU (how Japanese people would pronounce curl).  It is a corn puff, think Cheetoh puffs texture, that is shaped like a curl and comes in different flavors.  This bag just so happens to be clam chowder.  And it is delicious.  Go and pick up a bag.  But something tells me that this won't be the next Lay's flavor.

Hump Day Crush

6 feet 5 inches of cosmopolitan hotness, Yu Darvish is my hump day crush.  My first glimpse of Yu was while watching the 2007 Japanese baseball championships with my Dad in Tokyo, where Darvish is the ace pitcher for the Nippon Ham Fighters.  When I asked my Dad what his deal was, there was of course a story.  

Besides his good looks and interesting background (his father is Iranian, his mother is Japanese and they met while going to college in Florida), he also has skills. Darvish gained popularity when he was in high school when throwing a no hitter in the Koshien high school championships.  He then gained notoriety when caught smoking in a pachinko parlor (a Japanese gambling arcade) while still in high school, and later posing nude for a magazine while in the pros.  At the ripe old age of 21, Darvish married a popular Japanese actress and had a baby, shocking many in Japan.  

More recently, he was part of Japan's World Baseball Championship 2009 winning team.  Tall, hot and full of controversy, the rumor is that Darvish will be soon coming to America and the MLB. Can't wait! xx

She said she wants some Marvin Gaye, some Luther Vandross, a little Anita can definitely set this party off right...

Slow Jam the News.  How can you make AIG's terrible reality sexy as hell?  Turn it into a slow jam with the Roots and Jimmy Fallon.  Jimmy Fallon's goofiness is the perfect foil for Black Thought's lyrical skills (and those lips!) and Questlove's undeniable style.  Love it.  xx

get over yourself.

My Best Friend's Wedding.  Two friends who had a thing for each other in college make a pact that if they don't find someone by the time they are both 28, they would marry each other. Twenty-Eight. 28. really? Was that the accepted age of marriage desperation in 1997? 

The girl then proceeds to make a fool of herself for the next hour trying everything to break up the soon to happen marriage including getting drunk, passing out and needing to chisel a mask off of her face, forcing her gay editor to pretend he's her fiancee, terrible karaoke, fraudulent e-mailing and supremely manipulative behavior.  After seeing this again recently, I don't know why I ever paid money to see this in the theater.  

My Best Friend's Wedding, you need to Get Over Yourself. xx

She's always avoided falling in love. Yes, it's due to a life of a private affair.

'American Wife'.  Curtis Sittenfeld is one of my favorite authors - her writing has a way of sucking me in and the next thing I know I read 300 pages.  I enjoy that her details are well thought out and always included for a reason.  Although it can't hold a candle to my favorite book of hers ('Prep'), 'American Wife' follows the journey of Alice Lindgren from small town youth to First Lady of the United States.  Loosely based on the life of Laura Bush, this fictional story includes cheeky grandmothers, tragic deaths, love, lust, and betrayal.  It is impossible not to picture Laura and George Bush as the Blackwells, but I think it makes the story flow smoother, it wasn't distracting.

Don't judge this book by it's cover - the artwork is terrible and I don't really get why it was chosen since it doesn't fully match the story.  In fact, I disliked the cover so much I refused to read it outside of my house. And a bit of advice, pick up the paperback version.  I had the hardback and I threw out my shoulder when holding it to read! xx

Hump Day Crush

March Madness.  Tall dudes with amazing arms giving their all on the court for their team/school/pride non-stop for three weeks? The drama of competition and cinderellas and brackets? Count me in. 

I watch every year, cheer on my school (go BC!), and develop a three week crush.  I don't know who this year's lucky dude will be, but here are some crushes from the past years of March Madness worthy of taking a look back on.

Miles Simon.  Bald, cute with smooth skills and winning attitude to lift his team for the win in '97.

This next one sums up everything I love about March Madness.  I know that the majority of people who watch this clip are mesmerized by pretty boy Laettner's floppy hair and miracle fadeaway jumper in '92.  What you don't see is the cutie with the flat top who executed the perfect pass needed to make the winning shot happen.  Grant Hill.  Gotta love a team player.

Can't wait for all of the games and action.  Wonder who this year's crush will be? One thing I know for sure though, it won't be Tyler Hansbrough. xx

When y'all at ten, I'm at eleven...

I have rando taste in music - like with most aspects of my life I am an 'equal opportunity employer', but have a very low tolerance for country.  I almost always have something on. I need the background noise.  This habit also helps feed my mind's insatiable appetite for lyrics. If this portion of my brain held astrophysics instead, my life would be completely different today.  Little known fact, every blog post I write, with the exception of hump day, is a song lyric that relates to the thought.

So, yesterday a friend asked if I had any new suggestions to update her ipod workout mix, the only requirement was that it was upbeat and something I was really feeling lately.  Here is what I could suggest.

N.A.S.A - The Spirit of Apollo

North America South America.  Two djs making bonkers remixes.  It makes me think of that Friends episode where Rachel makes a dessert trifle with hamburger and Joey still eats it. 'What's not to love? Custard, good. Cake, good.  Beef, good.' 

The Virgins - The Virgins

This has been around for a while, but only recently, I can't seem to get enough of it.  It makes me want the summer to be here already.  Maybe if I listen to it enough it will finally get warm.

And the other songs I thought of were throwbacks to my middle school days...

ABY - One Way Love

Club Nouveau - Rumors

Whitney Houston - How Will I Know

Anything else that I should pass on to her?  xx

I sit and wonder - where, where are you now?

Thinking of Spring, my mind is bombarded by editorials of ripped jeans featuring everything from Balmain to Levi's.  And then I think of my original pre-teen crush wearing ripped jeans. And I am definitely talking pre-Jordan Catalano.

There used to be a show on Nickelodeon called 'Clarissa Explains It All', that combined a sassy female lead with kooky costumes (Clarissa), a dorky younger brother (Ferguson) and a cool best dude friend (Sam).  Sam was the funny boy next door, but a little edgy and definitely was crush-worthy back in 1991.

Curious to see how Sam grew up, I went on IMDB and was shocked by the transition.  So shocked, I don't even know how to wrap this up. xx

Hump Day Crush

Equal parts sarcastic, intelligent, cheesy leather jacket, well-traveled and outspoken New Yorker served up in a tall glass.  What's not to love? Anthony Bourdain is this week's hump day crush. Something about his willingness to travel the world and taste every and anything, drink and get drunk enthusiastically, laugh and just enjoy the good things in life (and make fun of the bad) makes you want him by your side when indulging in the everyday.  The earring, muscle tees and leather jackets somehow are all forgivable and maybe even contribute to the hotness, definitely no small feat. xx

D-d-droppin' science, droppin' history, with a whole heap of style and intelligence-y...

I love setting mini-challenges for myself.  It seems to keep me busy and fill my need for competing against myself, while also trying to improve various aspects of my life (originally developed by swimming competitively for 14 yrs). 

Some have been serious - like bringing lunch at least 3x a week - and some have been totally frivolous - like my March mini-goal of trying to wear high heels to work everyday.

The weather really hasn't cooperated with me this March, (I don't believe in the 'commuter shoe change') so I created a new one.  For every 'fun' book I read, I am going to read an 'American Classic'. In high school, I opted out of American Lit (the teacher's nickname was Frankenstein) and in college, I placed out of English, so I want to know if I missed out on some good stuff.

First on deck in the American Classic series is Sylvia Plath's 'The Bell Jar', which I have been meaning to read for many years.  The book is supposed to be a chronicle of Plath's descent into insanity - so far I am 70 pages in and main character Esther seems pretty normal to me.  What does that say? Uh-oh. xx

What goes around goes around goes around comes all the way back around...

So on my trek home on an 'R' train, I look up and what do I see?  The infamous sticker.  

But not in the usual place - over some poor fool's face who was playing the guitar in an ad for Aruba, the friendly isle.  Someone out there is hip to this game - and I want to get to the bottom of it! xx

Should I give up or just keep chasing pavements, even if it leads nowhere?

I am currently reading 'Lush Life' by Richard Price, the author behind 'Clockers' and a co-writer on "The Wire".  Set on the Lower East Side, the book sucked me in with the complex characters, smooth dialogue and a vivid mental image of the current scenery, players and culture in the LES. When I walk past 27 Eldridge and eat at Schillers, I will always think of Eric Cash, et al.  If you are looking for a good read, go and pick this up. xx

There ain't no better reason to rid yourself of vanities and just go with the season...

Spring Forward.  Fall 09 runways have been fire, but with the moving forward of our clocks, I want to take the time to look back at a few pieces from past seasons that I have really been feeling recently.  

Balenciaga Fall 2004, looks really right now in 2009 (photo from jak and jil)
Junya Watanabe Fall 2006.  Am seriously loving this utilitarian cape.

But I have an issue with vintage - I can appreciate looking at it, but just get the willies putting on the clothes of someone I don't know.  Something about the smell that never comes out, no matter how many times you dry clean it and the unknown backstory (was it someone's unlucky dress/did someone get sick in it?) combine to make it really undesirable for me.  

So for now, I will cross my fingers that there is some miraculous deadstock somewhere I happen upon, or more likely just drool over the pics and promise myself not to sleep on future classics. xx

Hump Day Crush

Fur.  I said it.  Fur, is my hump day crush.  This coming Fall 09, whether for fashion, luxury, or armor against the elements, there are some bonkers options out there and I am seriously loving them all.

When it is dyed pink (ala Balenciaga's pre-Fall 09),

king kong sleeves/gloves (Marni Fall 09, Balenciaga pre-Fall 09),

used casually in a dress (Prada Fall 09), 

or just something utilitarian and warm (Marni Fall 09)...

Better start saving pronto.  xx

Happy Girls' Day!

On March 3rd, Japanese people celebrate hinamatsuri or 'girl's day', celebrating girls and praying for their health and happiness.  When I was little, every year I would look forward to setting up the traditional dolls on the tall table in our dining room (just a version of the top tier in this picture).  My favorite part was - let's be real - something untraditional - blowing on the spinning lantern lamps to see how fast I could get the colors to change.  I would place little snacks and candies on the altar as an offering and would always wonder whether there would be the some missing the next day...and the boys in school would carry the girls' books around which was a true luxury. So be sure to celebrate and treat the girls in your life special today! xx

You're a pal and a confidante...and a muse?

Dorothy Zbornak.  Ahead of her time?  While watching an all day 'Golden Girls' marathon on Sunday, there was more than one instance where I caught myself wanting Dorothy's outfit. Something about the sequins, shoulder pads, and layering hit the right look and made me wonder if certain designers were feeling the same way.

I could picture this look being worked at Alexander Wang with some cut-offs.

Early inspiration for Steven Alan?

Graffiti printed dolman sleeve cardigan jacket - pre-cursor for a Sprouse x Marc Collabo?

Boho Layers pre-Olsen twins mania.  What you can't see here is Dorothy's stone colored slouchy boots.

xx.

Hump Day Crush...broken internet edition

The Outsiders.  What's not to love - greasy toughs who enjoy sunsets and search for the meaning of Robert Frost?  Count me in.  

Patrick Swayze as Darry, the hot big brother/father figure, Matt Dillon as Dallas, the tortured hoodlum who would do anything for his gang, Rob Lowe as Sodapop, the pretty boy all the girls crush on, Tom Cruise pre-Oprah couch jumping madness, C. Thomas Howell as Ponyboy, the sensitive tough who was willing to love across gang lines, Ralph Macchio as Johnny, the reluctant hero who found meaning in life and, well, Emilio Estevez.  

But as the poem goes - So Dawn Goes Down to Day, Nothing Gold Can Stay. xx

Simply put you're the reason why, even though I'm real shy...

My internet has been down for the past week...which left me with some extra time on my hands.  Literally.  Inspired by the Fall 09 animal fever on the runways, I did my own version of the cheetah.  A simple DIY, all you need is your favorite base color (I went with Chanel Kaleidoscope) and a black and white polish.  Paint your base coat and let it dry.  Next, take the white polish and paint random dots, then let dry.  Last, paint black squiggles on the outside of the white dots - either on the sides, or the tops and bottoms of the white dots in groups of one or two.  The key is mixing it up so it doesn't look so uniform.  Roar! xx