Two Questions for Tuesday

Why does this Coach Robot Necklace exist?

And why do I kind of love it in a ridiculous way?

Menjoyment Monday: BBC

I felt the need to share this. My sister found it and let me preface this video and this Monday's Men with a few things:

1. If you haven't already seen Series 2 of the BBC's Sherlock, don't watch this unless you don't care about spoilers.
2. We (meaning my sister and our friends and I) are completely obsessed with this series because it is SO VERY WELL DONE.
3. This video is also incredibly well done and makes me both laugh and cry.

Hope you enjoy.

Deep Thought Thursday: Material Girl

I don't necessarily consider myself a materialistic person. There are some things that I believe are important, and others I do not.

Things I will always no matter what buy on brand:

1. Heinz Ketchup. There is no disputing this. All other ketchups just taste wrong to me and it doesn't make for an enjoyable condiment.
2. Q-tips. Gotta be the paper sticked ones. Gotta be Q-tip brand. I am very picky about water in my ears and Q-tips are the only brand that over the years have continuously kept me from shaking water out of my head after a shower or swim.
3. Underwear. There are two stores that I purchase panties from and two stores that I purchase bras from. Sure, Aerie, Victoria's Secret, and Lane Bryant are more expensive than say, getting my undergarments at Target or Walmart, but it's all about the quality. Winona said it best, A Good Foundation is Essential. And for the girls, I would spend anything to make sure they are happy and I am comfortable.

There are other brands that I prefer, but I can be swayed in certain instances:

1. Subaru cars. What can I say, I love them almost as much as I loved the Tank.
2. Nine West shoes. They make up about 85% of my current shoe repertoire. They're well made, comfortable (well as comfortable as heels can be), and I think good shoes are important. They are, of course, a foundation as well.
3. Nike Running Shoes. It took me about 3 years to find the perfect pair of running shoes. I plan on ordering an extra pair just to keep in my closet in case they decide to discontinue that particular shoe.
4. Coach Leather Goods. I know, I know, 'spensive! But there's something that makes me wonderfully happy about Coach. In high school I would go through $15-30 purses like mad. I'd kill them. I could easily go through 2-3 of them in a month. I decided once I hit college (although Laura was quite the enabler on this one), that I would invest in a few good purses. Since college I've only thrown out one or two purses that bit the big one. I now have a (near complete) collection of purses and only have my eye on one more (which of course is extremely hard to find). What can I say? My grandmother has been lugging around a Coach bucket tote for about twenty years now, I think I could do worse.

I don't think I'm a Material Girl because I honestly don't have money to spend on a trendy closet and I may or may not still have dresses left over from high school that I may or may not still wear from time to time. Nor would I necessarily spend money on labels if I had any to piss away. I'm not huge on labels. I appreciate them. Do I love my D&G sunglasses? Yes, but if there had been a cheap pair that looked that good on my face I would have snatched them up instead in a heartbeat!

So what's the point of this whole Deep Thought Thursday? I need a new dress watch. The only watch I currently own that works is my EOS Binary digital that I love but is no where near "classy". My problem is this: All the watches I really like are name brand watches that are overpriced just because of the label.

Would I love a Rolex? Hellz yeah, check out this beauty right here->
But would I ever actually spend that much on a timepiece? No, I'd much rather go on a nice vacation with Jason for a week.

My biggest problem is also that I just don't like the look of traditional watches. What I really really want is a watch that looks like a bracelet. One that unless you looked carefully at it, you wouldn't necessarily think it was a watch.

I'm not talking a watch with a skinny bangle band, or a charm bracelet that happens to have a watch as one of the charms. I mean a piece of pretty jewelery that also happens to be a watch.

In all my years of searching I've only ever found one. It just so happens that it's a Coach watch.

There's something about the snap-head look to it that screams at me. I've wanted it for years but couldn't justify spending $400 on a watch when I was working three jobs.

I love the silver tone. I love the toggle clasp. I love the snap-heads. And most of all I love the way it looks like a bracelet but is really a watch.

Sadly, this watch is supremely difficult to find now. Every once in awhile one pops up on eBay. Every so often you can find one for sale on a random fashion site.

Short of call Coach Customer Service and seeing if they have one lying around a warehouse somewhere I don't think I'll ever have this pretty little number around my wrist.

So who's gonna do it? Who's going to track down one of these watches for me and surprise me with it? Who loves me enough?

(Second Image borrowed from Rolex)

Manjoyment Monday: A pained man and a guitar

You know I find loads of different men sexy for different reasons. But one of my biggest turn ons is a man that can sing. Throw in a guitar and I'm infatuated, it really doesn't matter at that point what he looks like.

There is something about a pained voice and a guitar that cuts right into the heart of me.

Last week when I was quarantined Julibean tried to send me things to watch and listen to and ponder throughout the day to keep me from going crazy. At one point she asked for "2 minutes of judgement free time" so she could show me this, or rather have me listen to this recording of Rob Pattinson sing.

I know what you're thinking, pretty boy, pretty voice. No, not at all.

Listen to the whole thing. Please. It is heartbreaking, truly. And it gives me the chills and it makes me love Rob Pattinson in a whole different way.

I never found him very attractive, but this really does it for me.

MM: JT FTW

Hate me if you want.

Seriously.

It's alright.

Because sometimes I hate myself.

But there's always been something about this break away boyband artist that I've adored.

Jason can't stand it.

Sometimes I can't stand it myself.

When Future Sex Love Sounds came out Julibean gave it to me for Christmas because it's totally a guilty pleasure of mine.

I love Justin Timberlake's music. There, I said it.

It has a good beat, I like the way his voice sounds and most of all he doesn't take himself seriously. I mean, I'm not sure I can count the number of times he's been on SNL anymore.


Plus this morning we drove past the golf course in Bethpage off of 135. Normally we don't take that route when carpooling but it gave me the willies a little.

Long story short a girl I knew was found there. When we worked together we would always rock out to JT whenever he came up on the soundtrack. So between that, NKOTBSB epic reunion this weekend and thinking about disco balls for some reason yesterday, here is your Man for today!

MM: No, it's Hairspray

I felt very very conflicted about this one.

As we all know, I have a lot of guilty pleasures. Trashy romance novels, shoes, ugly things, etc. but there's one guilty pleasure I've been holding back for a long time now and it wasn't until Ashley said the following words to me that I felt okay coming out and saying it.

Ash: I watched 17 Again today at work on youtube. Zac Efron is really really attractive.

Here's my thing. I don't really find Zac Efron really attractive on his own. However, as Link in Hairspray, ummm, break me off a piece of that please?

And apparently I wasn't the only one who enjoyed him as this character, nor was I the only one who felt old and even slightly pervy for thinking so...

Ash: Hairspray is when Mel and i decided that he WAS cute, and we left that movie feeling bad about ourselves.

Mel: I felt so conflicted. I was like "dance around in that skinny blue suit some more, Zefron!"

I think the only reason I allow myself to enjoy him in this role is to me, he doesn't look like himself and therefore I don't associate him with High School Musical or the other Disney movies he was in when he was young and therefore I don't feel old and dirty.

It's totally the 50s style that gets me. What can I say, I was born in the wrong decade.

Manjoyment Monday: Light of my Life

Twelve years ago I fell for someone.

I'm not quite sure what it was, but there was just that X-factor. Was it his huge smile? His quiet concentration? The damn soul patch on his chin? I'm not sure I'll ever know the answer.



I'm almost positive it has something to do with the fact he is an Olympian seeing as although I was excited he got to spend some time in the limelight away from speed skating when he was on Dancing with the Stars I just couldn't get into that as much as my face is glued to the television when he's skating. There's something ethereal about the way he moves. (Yeah I went there.)

He tied Bonnie Blair for the most Olympic Speed Skating Medals. He's secured his name in the record books and deep in the cockles of my heart.

Many have joined the bandwagon in loving this man but I among the silly Rock posters, clippings of that blue alien dude from the Walkman has landed ads, and photos torn out of Sports Illustrated of Mike Piazza, I had one sole photo on my wall of Apolo ages ago.

Ours is a long enduring love.

(I know, I'm a sick sad person.)

Oh goodness.

I might require this.



Yeah, I know, you want one too.

Manjoyment Monday: Fursplode or Die

It will never get old...or any less funny...

uuuuuuuuuFursplosion!

Okay, okay. I'm ready to be mercilessly mocked. It's more than fine with me, do your worst.

But last night I FINALLY saw New Moon. Yes dear readers, the moment Ashley and I had been planning for since July...the movie date to end all movie dates...the movie date that got pushed back countless times because of work, because of holidays, because of work again...it FINALLY HAPPENED!

I took a train into the city and met Ashley at the Starbucks right next door to the Regal on 42nd Street. We grabbed some sammiches and something to drink and caught up since although we talk to each other almost every day online trading war stories I don't believe I've seen her since graduation in May of 2007...weird.

Then we bought our tickets and giggled incessantly "We're actually doing it!" "YAY!" "I'm SO excited!"

A million previews later (reminder to self, read Dear John and the Percy Jackson & the Olympians series because they look like movies I'd enjoy and I prefer to read the books first) it finally started.

Allow me to just point out that there were about a dozen people tops in the theater and most of them were 20 and 30-somethings...ALL OF US COULDN'T STOP GIGGLING. Either it was because we were ashamed we were there, or we were just so excited we couldn't contain ourselves...

I just can't even convey to you how incredible this movie was. Dare I say it was the most fantastic movie I have EVER seen!?! Because truly, I am prepared to go as far as saying that!

I must have cried through half of the movie, I just couldn't stop laughing. And there were so many knee jerk reactions I almost fell out of my chair dying.

Quite possibly the best part of the movie was the audience. Honestly. There was one woman who every so often had a perfectly timed wonderfully ghettofied, "Oh shit." (Which when I imagine her saying it now, she's making three snaps in a Z.)

Choice moments:

1. During the scene where they come up on each other and they're running through the woods like this:
   I couldn't help but think of the opening scene of Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason when the music rises into a rendition of The Hills are Alive! With the Sound of Music....
   
2. Bella (to Alice): You're not leaving are you? Alice: I'll be back, once you put the dog out. Audience Member: Oh shit!
3. Everyone clapped when Jacob Fursploded!
4. The sketchy guy on the motorcycle reminded me of a pierced version of my brother Dan.
5. And the piece de la resistance...Bella (to Jacob): Hello biceps!
   

We couldn't stop giggling as we left the theater. It was pathetic.

This movie was WELL worth the wait! Well worth the $12.50 we paid to see it even! I might go see it again with Casey since she couldn't make it into the city last night to join us. IT WAS AMAZING!


So if you will indulge me:
Manjoyment Factor: *****
Holy Balls they all spent the entire movie topless! I don't care if Taylor Lautner is 17, I'm still in my early 20s, I can enjoy the eye candy without it being too wrong.
Cinematic Style: *****
It was definitely filmed better than Twilight. Our favorite part was when the camera when spinning at crazy angles to portray Bella spiraling out of control when Edward left.
Ridiculousness: *****
Ummm, hello? It's part of the Twilight Saga, of course it's ridiculous!
Consistency with Book: *****
I could appreciate the way they spun a few things to make the movie flow better. The only thing that threw me was when Bella hops on the random guy's motorcycle. However I TRULY appreciate the scene at the movies where both Mike Newton and Jacob have their hands palm up on the armrests, waiting for Bella to hold one of their hands. I loved that part in the book.

Thanks to LOLvamp(ire)s for the images.

Manjoyment Monday: Once More With Feeling

Weird. You know how once in awhile multiple people you know who have no affiliation with each other start talking to you about the same thing and you wonder if the cosmos are trying to send you a message?

Well one of my friends was telling me how she recently started watching the Buffy the Vampire Slayer Series on DVD and how she had never seen it before.

I was aghast.

I literally grew up on that...or rather...I spent my entire high school career watching it. And it was something we watched as a family, believe it or not.

So my sister is studying for finals and while she was compiling her notes and writing her flash cards this past week, she too had been watching the series as background noise.

AND THEN, yesterday I woke up and low and behold, my father is watching Once More With Feeling, the amazingly well done Buffy Musical episode.

What does all this mean to Manjoyment Monday? Simply that James Marsters is pretty damn hot! And obviously the universe wanted me to share that with you...

I have to admit I was a little sad when I found out he's not actually British. That accent was dead sexy. But apparently Anthony Stewart Head taught him everything he knows about it...and probably how to brew the perfect cup of Taster's Choice too.

Grr. Arg.

Manjoyment Monday

Back in my college days one of my roommates Belinda posted a new b&w picture of a super sexy guy every Sunday night on our apartment door.

Even though we were upperclassmen we lived in an apartment that shot off from a freshman residence hall, so please understand that the first floor (where we lived) was entirely populated by freshmen boys, and some of them didn't realize women lived on their floor. Needless to say, they were always confused as to why so many images of hot sexy men kept on popping up on a door that they thought freshman dudes lived behind.

So every Monday morning on my way out the door I got a glimpse of a new hottie.

To continue that tradition, I will institute Manjoyment Monday. And without further ado...

Uh...yeah I'm Team Jacob. Don't judge!

No, I didn't go to see a midnight showing. And no, I'm not a crazed fan. But seriously, these men are hot!

Purse Slut

I've mentioned before my love of shoes but I don't believe I've ever mentioned my complete and utter love of purses. I've always loved bags, but I never really cared about what I carried with me. In high school I lugged around an ugly tote I found at the bottom of my mother's closet or on occasion a silly purse that was in style at the time.

In college I carried purses rarely. It was mostly just a backpack and if I went out shopping I'd shove some money into a tiny card case with my ID and run out the door. It wasn't until junior year I actually started caring about carrying a purse. Only one other thing coincides with that...

Laura.

My best friend, I love her dearly, but she created a monster.

Since we moved in together her girliness seeped into my life. I cared more and more about what type of clothes I was wearing and the bag I was carrying.

I went through a few months of junior year destroying cute bags I bought for $20 at Target, Walmart, Mandee, etc. and then I realized it really was time to invest in a quality bag that would withstand a beating and stay with me for a long time. I figured if I was killing two or three $20 bags every couple of months, why not just spend $100-200 on a fine quality bag that would really survive?

Laura...again.

She's quite obsessed with bags, and at that moment in time her love was Coach (they go through a love-hate relationship). So we drove out to the Outlets in Lee, MA and I scoured the store and left with a beautiful camel leather bucket tote/swing bag. It was so pretty and I love fine leather so much. At first I wasn't interested in that particular bag but I kept coming back to it on the shelf so I knew it was meant to be.

Since then I've been a wreck. Not only have I bought numerous other Coach purses, but I have quite the collection of bags from other stores like NY&Co., Express, Vera Bradley, and other slightly pricier stores.

It's gotten so bad that I have an entire suitcase full of purses hiding under my bed. I'm a mess.

But I actually use every single one of them...I swear! I rotate through them and each and every one of them from the houndstooth clutch to the giraffe spy bag get face time.

That doesn't mean I don't still want more.

I have a problem.

Jason was concerned. More like, Jason can't possibly comprehend why someone needs so many bags. And I finally realized it one day awhile back when a girl I was working with at BBW was re-telling a conversation she had with a customer. (Back story, my co-worker and the customer were both slightly bigger girls.) Basically they were talking about shoes and bags and the customer say something along the lines of, "Well I can't fit into all the popular trendy clothes, but my shoes and bags are always fabulous."

And that really hit home with Michelle and I. I'm not enormous, but I lug around a little extra poundage so I completely understood the not being able to find super trendy cute clothes in my size and reverting to accessories to keep things classy. Therein lies the root of my problem.

But I digress.

In April I went on a ban. I bought an oversized tote to use for our trip to Florida in May because my old bag had deteriorated and I needed something to carry onto the plane with me. But after that I promised Jason (and myself) that I would spend no more money on purses for the rest of the year.

I have done AMAZING.

My mother bought me a purse at the Coach Outlet in Tannersville, PA this summer but a gifted purse is not a break on the ban.

Yesterday I was at Woodbury Commons and I was forced to go into Coach. And when I say forced I mean I literally had two things in hand that were not mine and I had to return/exchange for my mother/aunt since we don't live near any outlets.

It.was.difficult.

What is this power purses hold over me? I don't know, but going to the outlet and walking out empty handed (well with my aunt's exchanged purse) was sad. I know I don't need a new swing pack for easy hands free shopping but I want a new one because I dislike the one I currently own. I might wind up making a purse exchange with Laura because she was interested in getting a swing pack so next time I see her we might swap my swing pack for something of hers she intends to sell on eBay but honestly?! What is my deal?

In a 'round a 'bouts way of saying it, I've only really come to this realization because the wonderful Winona over at DaddyLikey (who's coming out with a book!!!) is having a delightful purse giveaway. Do I want a free purse? HELL YES! After spending the weekend watching everyone around me buy purses I totally am feeling the squeeze of the ban but definitely don't want to give in and purchase one myself.

Basically Ms. DaddyLikey herself is giving away two free bags from HandBagHeaven and I totally want one! Do you? All you have to do is visit DaddyLikey and tell whether you're a purse slut or you're more of a "settle down with a nice purse" type. Obviously I am both, but lean more towards the purse slut side of things...

If I win the giveaway, it will be a hard decision between the glorious blue skinny tote/satchel up top or this lovely faux snake skin clutch/swing pack right here. Both are pretty enough to pet.

Review: The Last Rake in London

This wonderful Harlequin Historical was tucked in my sister's Easter basket and she passed it on to me when she was done enjoying it.

Nicola Cornick's The Last Rake in London was definitely a good mix of interesting characters and a fun plot-line. Jack Kestrel, the rake to out rake any rake, mistakenly thinks night club owner Sally Bowes is the vicious trollop blackmailing his uncle. That vicious trollop is actually her ridiculously childish and annoying sister Connie who attempts to weasle her way into Jack's wealthy family when she isn't working nights as a hostess at Sally's club.

Jack immediately wants to take Sally and winds up later falling in love with her despite his vow to never love again. Sally, who will do anything for vexatious Connie or her other sister suffreget Nell, winds up "selling" her virginity to Jack in order to send much needed money to Nell so she can take care of her children. This act both confuses and infuriates Jack and he decides to secretly buy out Sally's club and bankrupt it to get back at her and Connie for the "scam" they were running on his cousin/uncle.

Long story short Connie gets the shaft and Sally and Jack live happily ever after. But not before jealous fights, near-drownings, and wild goose-chases.

I found this story avidly entertaining and it was the perfect book to read while swinging in a hammock all day. The characters were extremely easy to relate to, even though it was set in the Edwardian era and I enjoyed it from cover to cover.

The ratings:
Raunch Factor: *****
Multiple corsets and dresses were cut and torn off...
Writing Style: *****
Well written. Very similar writing style to No Place for a Lady.
Ridiculousness: *****
It wasn't too ridiculous.
Actual Plot: *****
The plot was pretty interesting.

Review: Rhiannon

Last night was night four in clean/scour the basement for garage sale items extravaganza. Somehow my father, sister and I got onto the topic of trashy romance novels and my father revealed to me that my great-grandmother loved trashy romance novels. And here I always thought that she was reading large print biographies when I went up to her room to visit her...

Anyway, it reminded me that I still have yet to post my review of Rhiannon by Evangelynn Stratton.

After I finished reading No Place for a Lady, my friend Ashley and I decided we'd swap novels. Ash holds this book near and dear to her heart and I was definitely interested in what made her so excited about it.

She warned me it was trash, it was fantastic, and I would love it, so I was anticipating its arrival at my house. On first impression: the cover art made me giggle (image via Amazon.com), as did a fantastic drawing of Jarreth atop his trusty steed on the inside of the book. I believe the drawings were done by one of the author's daughters so I appreciated the work once I realized it wasn't done by a professional. In fact I thought it was kind of sweet Stratton had done that.

This book was so different from the Harlequin Historical I had the pleasure of reading previously. It was well researched and the language helped to portray the story. In a nutshell Rhiannon finds out her father has arranged yet another marriage for her and runs away only to meet the man she's contracted to marry on her escape route, but they both conceal their identity in a very Twelfth Night sort of way.

She is silly and always find the worst ways of getting into trouble, sometimes setting places on fire, sometimes getting attacked by pirates, other times getting attacked by gypsies, sometimes almost drowning...and Jarreth seems to always manage to save her in one way or another. The whole time though, she has no idea that he is her betrothed. Yeah, he plays a dirty trick on her and hilarity ensues.

The ratings:
Raunch Factor: *****
It honestly wasn't that raunchy at all.
Writing Style: *****
As I mentioned, it was decently written.
Ridiculousness: *****
Between the gypsies, the pirates, the nuns and the war-horses, it was mildly ridiculous.
Actual Plot: *****
Although agnoizing at times, the plot was decent. It probably would have been more fun to hide some things from the reader though.

All in all it was pretty fantastic. Ashley did not disappoint in this one. I personally enjoy a little more raunch in my trashy novels, but that's just a personal preference.

The Double X Curse

I spend a lot of my downtime surfing the Internet. Who doesn't?

Recently my humdrum of an existence has turned to creating Wish Lists on websites. Typically I keep my Wish Lists private, they're really for my own amusement and I enjoy having lots of pretty things all in one place. But still, I would be lying if I didn't say I had a Wish List at Bed Bath & Beyond, Amazon.com, Macy's, and Target, and that seems kind of wrong to me.

Sometimes I'm creating Wish Lists just to entertain myself. Sometimes I'm creating Wish Lists so I can live an exciting life vicariously through these fantastic items. Either way, it's almost becoming a problem.

I was chatting with an old friend the other day and when he asked me what I was up to I flat out told him I was searching the web for shiny things I can't afford that I would love to own. At that precise moment I just happen to be looking at dresses.

I don't need dresses, but there are so many wonderful sun-dresses out there right now and I can't help but look at them. My friend admitted that he had never really gone out of his way to waste time shopping for things he didn't need online. And that's when I realized it...I don't think any of the men I am friends with would spend time swooning over things they can't own.

It hit me right then and there...I was cursed.

I have what I'd like to call the Double X Curse. Maybe it's that extra X Chromosome that puts us women over the edge and makes us want to continually look at beautiful things like diamonds, dresses, shoes, purses, etc. that we cannot afford but merely covet for no reason.

Right now I am coveting this:

Fiestaware has long been something that makes me extremely happy. I forgot it existed up until a day or two ago when I was looking at Pfalzgraff dinnerware that I think is beautiful but Jason has already shot down because it is somewhat floral, and I remembered how plain yet gorgeous Fiastaware was! The colors are so beautiful and the idea that I get to mix and match items depending on my mood that day is really cool too.

So now my Double X Affliction has turned me to creating a ridiculous Wish List on Macy's. And there it will sit, mocking me until I can turn it into a registry. But I can't wait till I have a home of my own where I can open up my cabinets and see such happy dishes smiling back at me.

I know, I'm lame.

(Photo borrowed from: jcipa's Flickr)

Review: No Place for a Lady

It all started with an Easter basket to rival all Easter baskets. It was innocent enough. I like having a book with me whenever I visit Jason's house because I typically wake up before everyone and enjoy sitting in the living room in front of the windows looking at the marvelous view of the forest and the mountains.

However, the night before I had finished Seventh Son and there it was. No Place for a Lady, just sitting there in my Easter basket...taunting me.

As I mentioned, I've never read a trashy romance novel before, so I was hesitant. Within the first five pages I was hooked. Women driving stagecoaches, men running willy nilly around after them, estranged wives coming back from the dead, attempted maulings in a public park...how did I not know these novels were so fantastically awful?!

Within two days I had read the entire novel. For me, that is a very short period of time as I read slowly, but I just couldn't look away!

So if you will allow me to rate this book...
Raunch Factor: *****
after all...she was a lady!
Writing Style: *****
best written romance novel I've ever read...although it is also the first
Ridiculousness: *****
two words...nipple ring...you're hooked too now, right?!
Actual Plot: *****
although predictable, there was a decent story

I am seriously considering purchasing a few more Harlequin Historicals. That and I'm apparently in some sort of trashy romance novel trade-off program with my friend Ashley, we're mailing each other books back and forth. I've already read another one...look for a review of Rhiannon soon!