Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Thanksgiving Eve

So this whole week I've been feeling fairly indifferent about the unofficial drinking holiday that is Thanksgiving Eve. As a former president of the Thanksgiving Eve Fan Club this came as a surprise to many of my friends and family. While I typically find it enjoyable to put on my most recently purchased "favorite outfit" and make strained small talk with people I haven't seen in months, if not longer, this year I'm just not up for it.

Come to think of it, I wasn't up for it last year either, which was why I went out of town and spent the with my sister and brother-in-law and all of his friends from High School. This was when I realized that while I may be "over" the whole tradition (at least until I have major news I'd like to share again like an awesome new job or getting engaged), it's actually a lot of fun to watch.

You see, Thanksgiving Eve in a town where you don't know anyone is kind of like sitting in a lawn chair by yourself in the infield at Preakness. There's this whole event going on around you that is basically an excuse for everyone involved to get drunk and you just take it all in, observing the action. While I have nothing invested in either situation, it still provides amusement. Now if I could only wear sunglasses to the bar so peole wouldn't know I was staring...

In light of my mood this year, I thought I'd share this article that my roommate forwarded to me yesterday; partially because it's relevant and but mostly because it made me laugh, as articles from The Onion so often do.

Speaking of my roommates, the girls and I will be hosting our own pre-game party and then going out on Bell Blvd. with people we speak to on a regular basis.

Andy Warhol once said, "I'm the type who'd be happy not going anywhere as long as I was sure I knew exactly what was happening at the places I wasn't going to. I'm the type who'd like to sit home and watch every party that I'm invited to on a monitor in my bedroom."

It is in light of this mentality that I suggested the following form of entertainment for this evening: A Facebook Thanksgiving Eve session where we pull up the profiles of all the people we know from High School, and would see if we went out in our hometown and then talked about after we talked to them, and share whatever gossip we have on them collectively.

Needless to say I think Andy would have been a big fan of FB, I can just see the pop-art profile pic now.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Sample Sale Update

Yesterday I received an e-mail that all remaining inventory at the Theory sale has been marked down an additional 25% off. Go forth and shop people!

Cutting Teeth

So I know the expression is "like pulling teeth," but I think I'm going to throw a new one out there for you. How about, it's "like cutting teeth?"

I suggest this because while I have not had a tooth pulled since before I had braces, I seem to remember it being done under a local anesthetic by a professional who scheduled me for an appointment that I was in and out of in about an hour.

So while "pulling teeth" sounds painful, it's sort of antiquated considering the advances in dentistry over the years. Cutting a tooth on the other hand, well that's far more difficult.

It seems common practice for people to have their wisdom teeth pulled. I don't know much about it, other than the word "impacted" being thrown around, and I didn't think I'd have to until I started cutting a wisdom tooth at some point last year. My dentist assured me that as long as it continued to progressively emerge, I wouldn't have anything to worry about other than some slight discomfort. All the while his assistant was standing behind him saying, "Isn't that cute? She's cutting a tooth!" Yeah lady, cutting a tooth is just what men find adorable in a 25 year old woman.

So now it's a year later and we're approaching the only holiday all year where the main event is eating and my wisdom tooth has decided it's going to make the big push to join the rest of my teeth at the table. Perhaps it saw the turkey as incentive. Unfortunately, this means that I'm in a good deal of pain.

While I normally don't take anything, not even Advil, I'm seriously considering something stronger. The best way I can describe the pain is to say that it feels like someone is using an icepick to cut through your gums from the outside to make room for a fang that is emerging from underneath. Lovely.

Teeth are a sensitive subject for me, to the point where I can't watch American History X or any movie where dental work is involved, Little Shop of Horrors included. My normally high threshold for pain comes with the exception of any sort of oral discomfort.

So, while you are all enjoying delicious Thanksgiving meals, celebrating the folks who made it all possible, I'll be eating a gallon of my sisters sweet potato soup and drinking wine to numb the pain.

Anybody want to bring me butterscotch pudding?

Monday, November 24, 2008

Twilight

Before I can even comment on the movie I need to touch on the ridiculousness of my fellow theater patrons. Going to see a hotly anticipated movie on opening night, I knew I had to be prepared. We showed up about 45 minutes before show time and some of the other girls were already there. They had saved seats for us, I think our group was about 12 in total, and shortly after we arrived the usher made an announcement that the show was sold out and there would be no seat-saving. The term alone conjures up images of school field trips and naturally caused us all to laugh a bit... at first.

All of a sudden we realized that two grown women behind us were calling the usher over. This poor girl, who was probably still in High School, went over to them and tried to mediate as the women accused younger girls of "saving seats" for people who were not in the theater yet. The usher announced that seats could be saved for people who were in the theater and at the concession stand or restroom. This started another round of jokes that the 3 people we were waiting for had stomach problems and/or were waiting for change at the concession stand (which was only partially a joke as I had to wait about 10 minutes for change of a hundred myself).

Then it started to get awkward. The women were insisting that the people for whom the seats were being saved were not there yet and so their claim to the seats was null and void. Then they sat down in the seats with the coats. I kid you not.
Shortly after they pull this little stunt, the true seat holders show up with their snacks and the women are forced to get up, although they do not do so quietly. All of this is going on a few rows behind us and several people in my party are too embarrassed to turn around to which I say, "If they're going to put on this much of a show, they can't expect me not to watch. Besides, I already have popcorn, I'm all set."

Now one of my friends has to go to the bathroom, so we begin joking that she'd better hurry or the women will sit in her seat. Meanwhile, the women are grabbing their teenage daughters from several rows ahead of us and as they walk toward the exit I hear one woman say to the usher "Well we'd better be let in first at the next show." My friend goes to the bathroom and comes back within a matter of moments. "The line was too long" she explains "but wait til you hear this, the women's daughters are all out there crying going 'Why did you get us kicked out of the movie?!'" We erupt in laughter and then go on to enjoy the movie.

My Review:
Okay, I went in with fairly low expectations and I was pleasantly surprised. The movie was good and they did a decent job with with screenplay, condensing 400 some-odd pages into 122 minutes. The things that bothered me the most were as follows:

1. Rosalie - In the books, she is supposed to be the most beautiful girl ever, blond and model-esque. The actress who plays her, Nikki Reed, is pretty, but she is (pretty obviously) naturally a brunette.

2. Jasper's Hair - Not sure why they decided to give Jasper this ridiculous mop of overly gelled blond hair, but it was a terrible decision. He looks ridiculous, making it very hard to take his character seriously. Also, Jasper is supposed to have this heightened ability to make everyone feel at ease, too bad he looked so tense the entire movie that I thought the actor who played him, Jackson Rathbone, surely had terrible gas pains throughout most of the filming. He is the newest vampire to go "vegetarian" so I get that he is supposed to look uncomfortable around Bella, but in the book he adjust and winds up liking her and in the movie this never happens.

3. Bella doesn't hatch the escape plan - In the book the whole thing is Bella's idea and in the movie she just kind of goes along with it. This might not seem like a big deal, but I think it is a key moment for Bella showing that she is really quite clever and it shows the Cullens that she is smart as well.

Finally
4. The Cullens wardrobe. The costume designer, Wendy Chuck, claims that she read the books in preparation for the job, but I'd like to know if she read the same book I did because the Cullens are supposed to be impeccably dressed. In my mind they were all dressed from head to toe in Prada. In the movie she puts Edward in a denim button-down. Seriously? Why don't you just have Old Navy sponsor the whole thing?

Bella she managed to get right, but the Cullens are supposed to be stylish. In the scene at their house she puts Rosalie in the most ridiculous stripper shoes and this horrible necklace. The closest Wendy Chuck gets to getting it right is the scene where they are introduced and the whole family is basically in white. It gives them a very mystical feel. Other than that I think she should have gone in a totally different direction.

Oh, there was one decision she made that I think was pure genius, putting Edward in a pair of Wayfarers in the scene where he and Bella basically debut as a couple in the parking lot. Robert Pattinson looked so cool here, I almost swooned.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Twilight Tonight

"When life offers you a dream so far beyond any of your expectations, it’s not reasonable to grieve when it comes to an end." -Bella Swan, Twilight*

In terms of blogging subjects, Twilight is the new Sarah Palin. Fortunately, Twighlight is a much less loaded topic. Well, I guess that depends on how die-hard the fan you are talking to is about the 4 book saga.

Personally, I have only read the first book in the series and I'm excited to read the second, but I knew I'd be going to see the movie tonight (my roommate got our tickets 3 weeks ago) and I decided to wait, lest I get confused. As it is I know I'm going to sit there nitpicking all of the inaccuracies. Hopefully I'll be able to restrain myself from thinking aloud.

The movie has been all over the entertainment news and I can't help but wonder what stylist is allowing Robert Pattinson to show up at everything looking so rumpled. Is it just me, or does anyone else have the uncontrollable urge to iron his clothes? He's not a big enough star to show up to every call looking like he slept in what he's wearing the night before.

Regardless, I'm really looking forward to seeing it and dissecting it over dinner with the girls. Hopefully I don't have to scold any chatty teenagers in the theater, or myself for that matter.

*Note: I chose this quote over "And so the lion fell in love with the lamb" because that one is great, but it's already getting played out. I can just see the t-shirts in Hot Topic now.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Sample Sale Success

Yesterday's sample sale was a success. While I did not get any pants, as I am in-between sizes right now, I had been ready for that. However, I did get the following fabulous items:

"Conie Strapless" dress in "Mica" Retail: $355.00 Sale $109.00
"Ardi Craze" dress in "Bright Violet" Retail: $315.00 Sale $109.00
"Amaya" Cashmere Sweater in "Bright Violet" Retail: $345.00 Sale $99.00

The dresses are both so chic and definitely fall into the "items I can wear forever" category. The "Conie" is a little more standard "me", very simple, could be worn with a leather jacket to do that whole toughening up of the sweet look thing, but the "Ardi Craze" is unlike anything I own. It's just such a party dress. It looks very 50's housewife gone glam. The color is just amazing and it has a patent belt in a deeper shade of blue. Normally I have a rule against buying anything that comes with a belt, but I decided to make an exception. It is Theory after all, typically I find that items that come with belts are of shoddy quality, and there pieces are so well made.

The "Amaya" is amazing and I feel very casual rocker chick in it. I immediately tried it on with jeans tucked into boots and a Swarovski pendent I have that has tiny blue crystals on it. It feels heavenly, but still manages to look stylish and neat, so I've decided to wear it to my sisters for Thanksgiving.

Of course when I got home I received an e-mail saying that they would be restocking the sale today and while that means that I may miss out on a few items, for those of you who are interested, it also means that there's more goods for all of you. Seeing as how I'm a big believer in karma, it's only fitting that they get more merchandise after I held out on the location from you guys. What goes around comes around in both fashion and life.

Theory, of course, is always in style.

Clothingline
SSS Sample Sales
261 W 36th Street
(between 7th & 8th Ave)
2nd Floor
New York, NY 10018

Sample Sale

"Shopping is my cardio." - Carrie Bradshaw

Not to worry, this is not your standard 'I heart S&TC' post. While I feel that the above quote is certainly true for me these days, something tells me that in order to get SJP's body she had to do something besides shopping to get those abs, my point is that shopping is indeed a work-out. Especially when you go to a sample sale.

This afternoon I have arranged to leave work early to attend one of my favorite sample sales: Theory.

Twice a year this place called Clothingline hosts a Theory sample sale. It's more of a warehouse sale, since actual samples are not in fact available, but it's still amazing prices on beautifully made clothes. To give you an idea of the savings in the spring I bought my interview suit, which retailed for around $600.00, for under $200.00.

The selection is plentiful, which you might not guess as you walk in the standard glass doors off of 36th St., and grouped by size. Typically they offer merchandise from the current season, which makes this sale even better than Century 21 or any of the other designer discount stores.

If you've never been to a sample sale before, I'll give you some tips, but I can't promise that the information I provide will really brace you for what you'll encounter. Basically; don't say I didn't warn you.

1. Know your size: Theory clothes are cut very well and if you know what size you are in one pair of their pants, then you know what size you are in all of them. Unfortunately, my bottom half is currently somewhere in between there 4 and 6 right now so, I'm going to have to try pants on anyway, but if you can avoid hitting the fitting room you can seriously cut down on time and frustration.

2. Attire: Wear an item you can take off in one fell swoop, like a trapeze dress and tights, and wear shoes that you can slip off without using your hands. Do not wear anything too warm. As I said before, this is exercises, you will sweat. You'll see why I suggest this outfit in the next section.

3. The Group Dressing Room: Behind a large black curtain fit to hide the great Oz lies the fitting room. Just a heads up; there is usually a line you'd normally find in the Meatpacking District on a Saturday Night to get in. Don't even think about cutting it, certainly not if I'm in line. Once inside, scan the space as quickly as possible for an open mirror/hanging rack to throw your stuff on and get to it (hence the outfit recommended above).
Each shopper is different; there are the people who are on a mission and don't even realize other shoppers are around them, there are the people who ask for your opinion and wind up flashing you as they switch between two tunics, and then there's the wild changer. Beware of this person, you may catch an elbow in the face.
If you too are modest for this set-up and don't know your size, all I can recommend is the exchange policy. You can exchange any item for the duration of the sale. Once it's over though, eBay is your best option.

4. The "That was my sweater" Argument: Possession is 10 Tenths of the law here people. It's like the Old West - stake your claim to what is rightfully yours, which counts as anything you have your hand on. If you put an item down, it is fair game. You can give dirty looks or even yell at people but, as I learned at one Kooba sale, you can tell a woman, "you obviously need that bag more than I do" and continue to compare her skin to the leather, but she'll still smile as she takes it up to the register.

5. The Buddy System: Normally I am a believer in the buddy system, on trips and at bars it is definitely the way to go. At a sample sale on the other hand, it's more like Lord of the Flies, every woman for herself (and her cashmere). If you must go with friends treat it like a fire drill and pick a meeting point for whenever you make it out. You do not have time to find your friend amongst the masses and ask her if this color makes you look washed out. Ask the girl behind you in the sweater line, she'll be more honest anyway.

So that's my advice and you can take it or leave it. As for the time/date/location of the sale, it's going on for the rest of the weekend so I'll post that information for the rest of you after I've gotten first dibs ;)

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

The Peep-Toe Bootie

As the cold weather comes into full effect I relish the opportunity to start wearing my many pairs of boots. Last season the bootie became popular and while, at first, I had flashbacks to that horrible 90's invention, the shoe-boot, the style eventually grew on me.
Unfortunately, just as I was scouting piperlime, zappos, and Nordstrom.com, for a bootie of my own, the mass market took this design to a whole new level with the peep-toe bootie. This is basically a boot with the front cut out to reveal several toes.
As someone who can't even stand toe cleavage (Sorry Christian Louboutin, you may be a genius, but toe cleavage is nasty), this design-flaw-turned-trend sends shivers down my spine, despite being covered in an adorable black wool Tocca dress.
Besides being hideous, these boots are completely impractical. People wear boots because it is cold out. Layering leather over your calf is as stylish as it is smart, keeping the leg clad in a fabric that looks both rich and neat and retaining body heat at the same time. A peep-toe bootie is the equivalent of Uggs with shorts and for the ladies who are willing to commit either of these fashion crimes, I can only tell you that you are one sadly misinformed fashion faux pas away from wearing Crocs.
As for those of you who own Crocs, well the peep-toe bootie would actually be a step up for you, so I recommend stopping at your local Steve Madden and seeing what they have in your size.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Procrastinating

The original purpose of this blog was to regale readers with my humorous tales as I moved from the house I grew up in on Long Island to my first apartment, at the ripe old age of 26, into Queens with two friends who I've basically known since grade school.
It's now mid-November and I've been living there for over a month and, until today, all I had was a bunch of rough drafts. There's one where I gripe about the Mets, but that was only relevant for a few days and I didn't want to publish it until I felt it was up to my usual writing standards. A few other posts fell victim to this same idiotic mode of self-defeat, enhanced by procrastination, so now there they set in my drafts file, unpublished.
Last year I interned at a bridal magazine and obtained my first "real" clips (since employment postings love to tell me in their condescending tone how my bi-weekly opinions column from college simply doesn't count) as a writer and this year they were nice enough to let me write for them again.
Let me digress for a moment and say that I am a terrible procrastinator. It does not matter if I have two weeks or two months to do an assignment, I will still wait until 2 days before it's due to start it. In my defense, I always get my work done, it's just that I work best under pressure and for some odd reason, if it's not there naturally, I feel the need to self-inflict pressure to get the result that I want.
So as I sat procrastinating, watching every TV show I've missed over the past few weeks and combing Facebook for any new picture of anyone I've ever known, my thoughts wandered to this blog and I realized: It's a blog... why the heck am I procrastinating?!
Writing is my passion, but like all passions, I don't need to attack it with the severity of a Masters thesis. Passion projects should be fun and if you love it, then somehow it will, in some way, be good. Even if it's only to me.
So here's my blog. Some days I may just complain about traffic on the LIE or the commute to work or the guys I meet and then try to shake like a tick every weekend. It's not Hemingway, but, unfortunately, few things are and this isn't meant to be.

Thanks for reading...