christine.is.pink

Real Steel: Not really a movie review.

2012-02-02T09:30:00.000-05:00

Actually, I don't think the first "movie review" I did a few days ago was a true review either. Nonetheless/slash/moving on...

I thought the trailer for Real Steel looked super cheesy. The premise of the movie (based on a trailer I saw before another movie) was that Hugh Jackson and a little boy were somehow involved in huge robot boxing in the future. I imagined the intellectual level necessary to to enjoy this movie would've been around the level necessary to enjoy any of "The Fast and The Furious" sequels. (I did really enjoy the first one, but the quality of the movies just went laughably downhill from there).

Anyhow, I unwittingly and completely unexpectedly stumbled into watching Real Steel (probably about 30 or so minutes in) this past Sunday. And I found it to be surprisingly heart-warming with a better than expected (good) story line. I laughed (because it was funny not because I was laughing AT it). I cried a bit, too. I found bits that were so adorable and likable. All not feelings I expected to get from this movie. Maybe I should give Hugh Jackman a little more credit in choosing his roles.

I guess it just goes to show, sometimes you can't judge a movie by its trailer. =T

Dreams and ghosts.

2012-02-01T09:30:00.000-05:00

Tried finding the ghost from the Mickey Mouse version but this is the best runner-up

My dreams lately have all involved lengthy cameos by the ghosts of boyfriends past. Starting in high school and this latest one is from college. Leave me alone, boys. Pretty please :)

The Social Network: A movie review!

2012-01-31T09:30:00.000-05:00

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As an early Christmas present to myself, I started subscribing to Netflix after my fall semester finals last year (December 2010). Since then I've watched a lot more movies than I would've alone. As much as I like movies, I've seen an unusually small number of them. I've just never had the impetus to watch movies alone. It's the rare case that I want to watch a movie so badly I'll illegally download it, much less watch it by myself.

Anyway, my point is, since signing up for Netflix I've watched a lot more movies than I usually would have. Both streaming and via their DVD service. A few months ago I watched The Social Network. Unlike the majority (it seems) of people who've told me they didn't really like it or Zuckerberg's character, I disagree.

I guess a lot of people don't really like Zuckerberg because he comes across so binary, so black and white. Something is either a fact or it's not. Something either matters or it doesn't. (And I know this is a probable dramatization of his character, but a college friend who went to high school with Zuckerberg says it's pretty true to life). Anyway, I didn't dislike Zuckerberg. I rather got him.

I'm not afraid to say that in some ways I'm kindof like Zuckerberg. I can be annoyingly practical. When you tell me something, I ask, "So?" This drives my parents (and at least one ex-boyfriend) up the wall. But my inquiry was Why are you telling me this? Why should this information matter to me? There's a lot of information in the world and I don't want anything unnecessary. I don't think I'm nearly as extreme as how they portray Zuckerberg, however. I like to think I have some more social sense and acumen and thus, maintain better relationships with the people I care about in my life. (I mean, since I'm clearly not a genius in the way he is, I've gotta compensate somehow, no?).

There are other traits I could discuss, and clearly this wasn't just a movie about Zuckerberg's somewhat autistic/Asberger's-ish/sociopathish-ness, but for me, this is what struck me the most about the movie. The fact that he was so misunderstood for just being himself. He's not a bad guy - at least the way the movie showed it, he never intended to screw over Eduardo Saverin and the way I see it, too, he really never intended it. Given the pitfalls of seeing everything as merely black and white it's a good thing I'm loyal to a fault!

Goodreads.com

2012-01-30T16:47:00.002-05:00

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Just joined Goodreads.com. Can't believe it's taken me this long to hear about it.

If you wanna see what I'm reading, what I want to read, etc., join!

Checkout my reading list on Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/friend/i?i=LTM1OTk1MjQ0MDc6MzY1

Deathly fears.

2012-01-30T09:30:00.000-05:00

In the spirit of sharing things about me you may not have known: I have a death-fear of snorkeling. Ok, maybe death-fear is a bit strong. But I really really really don't like snorkeling. Something about fish touching me FREAKS me out!!!

There IS an explanation. The first time I went snorkeling was in high school. We went on a family trip with another family right after school got out in 2001. The kind guide who wanted to attract fish so that I would have more to see just threw the fish bait/food/bread right on top of me so that fish were swimming all around me. Fish swarmed all around me, inevitable a few touched me and I started screaming bloody murder. My mom thought a shark had attacked me so they actually pulled everyone back into the boat and then when they got me on board and realized I wasn't physically harmed they asked me what happened. Blubbering, I could barely get out, "A fish touched me."

At which everyone was very annoyed and just got back in the water. Needless to say, I did not. I very much enjoy swimming/floating on top of the water and looking down at nothing. I do NOT like snorkeling when there are fish nearby. The last time I was forced into snorkeling (winter 2008) I actually swam away from the group just to look at the empty clear water. Then I somehow thought about how huge the ocean is and how tiny I am and how quickly a whale, or shark, or giant current could pull me away from EVERYTHING. And then I freaked out and climbed back on the boat as quickly as I could...

Ghost "towns."

2012-01-27T09:30:00.000-05:00

I meant to share this earlier and it got lost. I thought this would be an interesting question to discuss especially around New Year's when people make such grandiose claims and declare their hopes and wishes for the coming year: What are the consequences of dreaming "too big"?

This article takes a look at 6 modern ghost "towns" and it means towns in terms of projects. Man-made projects that have ended up... empty.

I have a bag of new yarn and a halfway to halfway finished blanket. This summer I picked up knitting, thought I was going to do it forever and started to knit one of my goddaughters a blanket. Here I am 6 months later, past Christmas and her birthday and the blanket is still sitting in my "knitting bag."

My sister has a 5000 piece jigsaw puzzle she bought and started before Christmas. My mom has 2 empty except for 2 pages scrapbooks she started making when I went off to college. We are all sometimes a bit more ambitious than might be productive. It's not necessarily a bad thing but where exactly do we draw the line to balance resources and investment?

So that leads to my question: What's your "ghost"?

Pointless.

2012-01-26T09:30:00.000-05:00

Can someone please tell me, what is the point of chives? Maybe the make some foods pretty, but they don't taste like anything...

Please let them know what killed me.

2012-01-25T09:30:00.000-05:00

I've been using ketchup packets I found in our break room cabinet. I don't think they are so old I might die, but if I fall violently ill, please tell them to check the ketchup in our break room.

Grammar fetish update.

2012-01-24T09:30:00.000-05:00

An update to this earlier post.

I would do this.

If Sherlock Holmes were a bit racist.

2012-01-23T09:30:00.000-05:00

So, I've had a long week and made plans to meet my family at our Korean sauna after work. I've taken the bus to the sauna before when I was still living in the city. So, no big deal right?

Wrong. Now that I'm a commuter, I have a monthly NJTransit bus pass and it turns out the bus I need to take is a Rockland Coach line bus. Meaning they won't honor my monthly pass and I have to buy a new ticket. No way. I'm not paying for another ticket when I'm already entitled to a ride into NJ from NJTransit.

From my own keen memory I remember that in all my time spent on Broad Avenue (2 blocks from my destination) I've consistently seen 166 line buses. Score. I now know which line to take. But which gate???

Luckily for me, my own usual bus gate is in the farthest remotest corner of the terminal. This means I've passed lines of people at nearly all the other gates. I've also noticed that there are an unusually disproportionately high percentage of Asian folks in the lines at the cluster of Gates 208 through 214.

Aha!!! All those Asians must mean at least one thing!!! Not only is that where the Bergen County bus lines are but it's also where the Bergen County bus lines that go to super-Asian places are. Like my own destination!!!

Having thus narrowed down which bus to take and where I need to be to take it i walked towards that cluster and start looking at the tables next to each gate for the right line.

Yes. There it is. Line 166 with service to Palisades Park departing from Gate 211 Door 2. Don't mind if I do. I feel so accomplished. :)

Can you tell I really used to love Nancy Drew and that I really currently love Sherlock Holmes?

Source: http://www.telesalesmagic.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/F0K3VBKFBVHECHB.MEDIUM.gif

Liam Neeson.

2012-01-20T18:31:00.001-05:00

I've been a fan for a while but only recently decided that there is something irresistibly appealing/intriguing about Liam Neeson.

Source: http://www.deadhippo.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/The-Grey-Poster-e1325800251396.jpg

Is that really too much to ask?

2012-01-19T12:30:00.000-05:00

Urges. I get them.

2012-01-19T01:12:00.001-05:00

And sometimes I successfully ignore them! Successfully, but not happily :(

DYYYYYYYYING to pick up The Hunger Games to read Just. One. More. Chapter.

But I can't. Must wait for my commute.

Because I know it could never be JUST. ONE. CHAPTER. (It wasn't with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and it wasn't with The Help or A Thousand Splendid Suns or any number of books I pick up to help me doze off).

That plan NEVER works. Even when I guiltily finish the book I feel let down by the over-ness of it all, as though the end of the book is the loss of the story. And that gnawing, empty feeling haunts me and prevents me from getting some much-needed sleep at 4am.

Once, when I worked at Abercrombie & Fitch, I called in sick because I was up all night reading and couldn't face the idea of a 12-hour Memorial Day shift. So bad.

Ugh - so I must go to sleep instead of finding out if someone finds Katniss and Peeta in the cave together... DUN DUN DUN!!!!

Source: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0439023483

How I organize my emails.

2012-01-18T13:12:00.000-05:00

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I have this thing where I like to keep less than 20 emails in my "Inbox" at any given point in time. If I'm REALLY being honest, I like to keep it at less than 15.

I usually immediately read, respond to, and archive my emails with appropriate labels. The 15 or so I'll keep in my Inbox are usually emails that need me to take some action that I cannot do "immediately." Usually, to write a lengthy or thought-out response (so monthly emails from my faraway friends stay here), something I need to refer to quickly from my phone (the ticket pickup information for the ballet I went to last night), something I want to RSVP for but need to check my schedule first, etc.

After coming home to over 100 new emails after my week in Cancun, I narrowed it down to less than 30 pretty quickly and easily. But it's been at 27 emails for the beginning of this week. I just got it down to 17 and I feel SO SO good.

Mission: Accomplished!!!

Little victories. And making peace.

2012-01-17T09:30:00.000-05:00

Saw this on friend's gchat status:

"I have a week left at this place, and I'm going to steal all the fucking Splenda before I go" - my secretary

And it reminded me, sometimes life is about the little victories. By little victories, I don't necessarily mean the battles we (actually) win or lose. What I mean is what we consider to be victories and how we make peace with the situations and circumstances we find ourselves in.

For example, let me illuminate with the concept of "Aldrin justice." This was introduced to me via How I Met Your Mother (HIMYM) and it has to do with how the character of Lily Aldrin doles out "justice." She was previously a kindergarten teacher and believes in punishing bad behavior by taking away something from the perpetrator. For example, someone at The Gap was mean to Robin and Lily took a pair of khakis (not stealing because she is doling out Aldrin justice).

Aldrin Justice

Lily, as a kindergarten teacher, thought that taking away a "toy" from someone to punish their meanness was fair, i.e. an appropriate response.

My friend's secretary thought that taking all the Splenda from a firm (that probably sucked out her soul and leeched off her blood/sweat/tears for its profits) was fair as well.

As for me? What is my little victory? Where do I find my own small justice? It's maybe super-lame and even a bit of a cop-out, but I'm a huge believer in karma. So, rather than partaking in my own form of vigilante justice, I make peace with what I perceive as inequities or little rudenesses by reminding myself that karma is indeed a B-word and that other person will get theirs (in the end).

It's a small way out - but it works for me. One more strategy I use, it's not really a strategy so much as a perspective but it helps me get through the day. I used to get very frustrated and annoyed at employees in the service industry - particularly restaurant workers: when they forget my order or request, when they were slow in getting me water, and cashiers: when they are SUPER-slow at their job, when they forget to remove the security tag, when they mess up ringing you up/giving you change.

One day (actually, probably many times), my dad would see me get annoyed and verbalize some version of "[This job] is NOT that difficult!" and he told me, "If they were as smart as you, do you think they would be doing this job?" He meant this as a compassionate comment - that I should have mercy on these folks doing the best they could with what they were genetically/societally given and be more understanding of their shortcomings. However, I've found you can stretch that into what can amount to small victories (by comparing myself to people who are rude or mean to me).

For example, I had a series of "misunderstandings" with a "friend," where basically I felt I was being used (this friend would only call/text/want to hang out under the pretext of "catching up" when she needed me to do something for her) and would conveniently be busy whenever I initiated contact/spending time together (because, you know, I thought we were friends). I was upset and a bit angry at first, but then the more I thought about it - I saw there were things missing from her life, her insecurities, her flaws. I saw that although she had a group of outwardly fabulous friends, she couldn't count on them to support her or be there for her in her times of need. I realized I was indeed lucky in having great friends I could rely on - friends who were not merely fairweather friends. And although it's not really "justice" - I realized that I'm lucky in a way that she's not.

I guess, this could be a "victory" if I thought about it as, "Well, you may be using me but ultimately I have true friends and you don't." But that seems petty and small (but ok, I maybe think that way sometimes - when I am especially upset by how someone has treated me). But really, I want to be the kind of person my dad is: someone who views the other person's mistreatment of me as a manifestation of their own flaws and then is able to act compassionately in response to understanding that flaw/shortcoming (instead of the way I sometimes see it, which is, as previously mentioned, "Haha, I'm smarter than you and not a McDonald's cashier and so I won't let it bother me when you give me attitude").

So, as per usual, this turned into a bit of a rambling-on about how I make peace with (little) things that annoy me in the world, but here's your USEFUL TUESDAY TAKEAWAY:

Find your own (non-violent) way to make peace with (what happens to you in) the world.

And stick with it. It'll lower your blood pressure. You'll produce less cortisol and gain less weight. You'll be able to let things go instead of letting old grudges fester inside you. You'll be a happier person. Eventually. Maybe. Then you'll smile more. And your future spouse will fall in with your smile. See how I just helped you find the soulmate of your life and future parent of your kids??? Haha =D Just try it. Thank me later by serving ice cream cake at your wedding. ^^

Talking clock!

2012-01-16T15:41:00.002-05:00

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I don't think I've ever just posted a joke but I saw this on someone's facebook and thought it was quite clever. (Made me laugh at any rate).

A drunk was proudly showing off his new apartment to a couple of his friends late one night.

He led the way to his bedroom where there was a big brass gong and a mallet.

'What's that big brass gong?' one of the guests asked.

'It's not a gong. It's a talking clock,' the drunk replied.

'A talking clock? Seriously?' asked his astonished friend.

'Yup,' replied the drunk.

'How's it work?' the friend asked, squinting at it.

'Watch,' the drunk replied. He picked up the mallet, gave the gong an ear-shattering pound, and stepped back.

The three stood looking at one another for a moment.......

Suddenly, someone on the other side of the wall screamed, 'You jackass! It's three-fifteen in the morning!'

Overheard in the Museum of the City of New York.

2012-01-16T09:30:00.000-05:00

"It's amazing that you guys can be so cool like that. I mean after he tried to kiss you and everything. But you're still friends with a guy you were sleeping with but not dating, so."

- Two girls in line for The Greatest Grid exhibit.

Still trying to figure out if that was a compliment.

Talk the English good.

2012-01-11T09:30:00.000-05:00

I've seen this poem before but forgot until I saw it on a friend's wall whilst poking about on Facebook.

Maybe I'll record myself reading it and post it - clearly I have perfect pronunciation =)

EDIT/UPDATE: This is what happens when I rush-schedule posts. I miss images from my hoard that go together (because, let's face it - everyone likes a post with pictures!).

PSA: I don't want to get cancer!

2012-01-10T09:30:00.000-05:00

Asian flush is no laughing matter! Apparently if you get the flush and have 2 beers a day it increases your chance of contracting esophageal cancer by 10 TIMES!!! Not 10%, 10 TIMES!!!

Yuck! See, yet another reason I don't drink: I'm classy AND I don't like getting cancer.

Oh, the gym.

2012-01-09T09:30:00.000-05:00

Because clearly so many people (will) make resolutions about losing weight or getting in better shape: snarky and hilarious "rules" or things to know about "the gym."

My favorite? Rule 11:

Gyms have two types of members: Members who wipe down the machines after using them, and the worst people in the universe.

Not dressed.

2012-01-06T14:43:00.003-05:00

For the weather that is. I forgot that a January 50 degrees is not the same as an April 50 degrees. Thusly, I think I chose a too-light/thin coat this morning. Oh, well.

Also, I am wearing two pairs of pants (don't worry about it). And while not nearly as uncomfortable as I'd expected, I do feel a bit like Joey, below.

Source

And the video, here. LOL my face off (yes, I know that makes no sense, but it's Friday at nearly 3pm).

Hands down, "The One Where No One is Ready" is one of my top 3 favorite episodes of Friends.

Beautiful libraries.

2012-01-06T09:30:00.000-05:00

If you remember from an earlier post, I TOTALLY LOVE LIBRARIES!!! Like, head-over-heels LOVE LOVE LURRRV libraries. I think they are so beautiful and I love walking through them and reading in them.

So when I saw a facebook friend link to one of the articles below, I just had to share.

First, the publication's choice of the 25 most beautiful college libraries in the world. And then they knew I couldn't get enough and published a reader's choice of 20 more beautiful college libraries from around the world.

I'm not even sure where I collected all these pictures, but I do in fact just hoard pictures I find on the internet of BEAUTIFUL libraries and now I'm sharing a few:

My first favorite/dream library

Look at the spiral staircase!

In case you couldn't tell

HILARIOUS.

So beautiful

Books up to the sky!

Doesn't this look a lot like the 3rd floor of Butler?

Biblioteca do Palacio e Convento de Mafra I

Biblioteca Geral da Universidade de Coimbra IV

Queen's College Library, Oxford

Beautiful ceilings

Skyscrapers of books!

Le DROOL!!! Seriously, I would fall madly in love with any guy who took me on a tour of libraries. (I did have a wonderful date going through the Morgan Library once). I would be ECSTATIC if I could go on a tour of beautiful libraries for my honeymoon... ~~SWOON~~

SCIENCE! The world's youngest mother.

2012-01-05T09:30:00.000-05:00

How could I not?

So a few weeks ago when I was trying to find out more about that ridiculous smoking toddler, I came across another strange child-story.

This 5-year-old girl is the world's youngest mother! (A longer article with more scientific info).

Apparently she started menstruating at 8 months old. I think it's weird and sad that they never figured out who impregnated her (b/c seriously, who gets a 4-year-old pregnant?) but apparently she was totally normal and healthy in other ways. Also, it seems like this episode got her family to supervise her more carefully because the next time she got pregnant was at the age of 38, after getting married.

Brings a whole new meaning to "children having children."

Source

Sacrifices that are worth it.

2012-01-04T12:30:00.000-05:00

Left work at 8pm yesterday. But still with a smile on my face.

Why? I'm working late to do all the work I can't do next week. Because I'll be beachside in Mexico :D

Our resort

Will be pulling long days for the rest of the week but I'm sure it'll be worth it.

Excited for my week of fun in the sun. Especially since this past weekend my mom bought me my BARBIE BATHING SUIT!!!

It's this top:

From Everything But Water

With this bottom:

From Everything But Water

So this bathing suit but in the above color:

I FREAKING LOVE IT!!! I LOVE IT SO MUCH that I danced around the store wearing it and singing "I'M A BARBIE I'M A BARBIE!!!" until my mom just bought it for me (mostly I think to make me take it off and stop terrorizing other customers).

Then I came home and wore it for five hours and kept singing "I'M A BARBIE I'M A BARBIE!!!" until I had to get ready for a New Year's Eve party. And even then, my mom and sister had to convince me I couldn't wear my new bathing suit to the party SADFACE.

SO EXCITED!!!!

I've been so lucky lately.

2012-01-04T09:30:00.000-05:00

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Lately I've been trying this new thought experiment. Anytime I get annoyed or start to get annoyed by someone or something I try to turn it into a "how lucky am I?" situation.

For example, a few weeks ago this handicapped wheelchair guy was slowing down my bus and making me late to my orthodontist appointment. In NYC, the buses have this foldout ramp that lifts the wheelchair onto the bus and then the driver has to strap the wheelchair into the designated seat area.

Anyway, even though it makes me sound horrible, the truth is that I was annoyed by this process slowing down my bus. Then I DECIDED to think about how lucky I was for being able to walk and for being mobile and independent and how I shouldn't take that for granted.

I say "decided" because it's truly a conscious choice I need to make to feel that way. If you know me at all I'm truly not the world's most patient person and annoyance is probably my most frequent negative emotion.

One more example: I get really annoyed by tourists both on my commute and just actually in NYC. But this morning I saw the sun shining on the NYC skyline and I couldn't help but smile. I get to come to this, the greatest city in the world, one of the top must see tourist destinations in the world. I get to come here everyday. I used to actually live here for three years.

It's a rather small change in my thinking - but it's been making a world of difference. Try it: "I'm so lucky." (Best done with a smile and a slight exhale/sigh hehe).

Honest to God, I don't know if this is why, but I've seriously been a MUCH happier person in the past few weeks. I'm hoping it's this and sticking with it =D

Back to work!

2012-01-04T08:00:00.000-05:00

The holidays are officially over. Yesterday there were 7 people on my bus. Today it's standing room only.

Source: http://www.zazzle.com/now_get_back_to_work_card-137328070255090875

Holy smoking children, Batman!

2012-01-03T09:30:00.000-05:00

Image source

I came across the image above as a photo (didn't know it was an album cover) and was a bit disturbed but I thought to myself, "Alas, this is what America has come to," and actually now that I think about it - I'm a little upset that I wasn't MORE upset. The fact that this picture didn't shock my conscience is saying something about how jaded or cynical or even numb I've become to horrible things in society.

Then I saw something on imgfave.com that said it was a photo that accompanied some scientific paper/study about an uber-manipulative/controlling child who got her mother to let her do whatever she wanted, including smoking cigarettes. Now, I was intrigued by this so I started using Google to search for this backstory.

Unfortunately, I didn't find anything about this alleged psych case, but I DID find some interesting and disturbing news about smoking babies/children.

There is a 2 year old smoker in Indonesia who smokes 40FORTY40 cigarettes a day - I'm no expert, but I think that's something like 2 packs a day ... The kid is SO unhealthy that can't even run or walk around on his own - he smokes while riding a toy truck all day.

I don't even know how you GET a child younger than 2 to start smoking - and how it GETS to this point. Literally, I have no idea and my research didn't turn up anything further. My guess is, dad gets drunk and thinks it'd be funny/amusing to have kid take a puff of his cigarette. Gives it to kid - kid has no idea what to do but still has natural sucking reflex. Coughs and gags but the nicotine has an UBER-strong effect on his tiny baby brain and body. Kid starts nagging and fussing when dad has cigarette and sh*tty dad doesn't want to deal with the noise and idea of discipline and just hands the kid a cigarette the way suburban parents hand their kid their iPhone to appease them. And this starts the cycle. (JUST A GUESS).

And if you thought that not actually making smokes available for your kid but just doing it yourself didn't cause problems, here's another article that says otherwise:

It was found that when 2 to 6 year-olds children were asked to "shop" for groceries for a hungry doll, they were four times more likely to choose cigarettes if their parents smoked, and three times more likely to pick wine or beer if their parents drank at least once a month.

Useful Tuesday hint? Don't smoke around your kids.

Fetish? Proper grammar, please.

2012-01-02T09:30:00.000-05:00

So ridiculous, but true (for me).

Total turnoffs?

People who say "would of"/"could of"/"should of"
People who don't know "their/there/they're"
People who don't know "it's/its"
People who don't know "your/you're/yore"
People who can't spell
People who use incorrect grammar
AND OMG WHERE DID THIS ONE EVEN COME FROM: People who say "WAH-LA" or some such bastardization of "voilà"

True confession: One of the reasons I've never dated a "native," an "organic," or FOB guy: I don't think I could fight the urge to correct every little linguistic mistake...

EEK. Am I a horrible, anal person?

Wanna see this movie!

2011-12-30T12:30:00.000-05:00

Amazon.com

Read the books in record time last summer after my godmother loaned them to me.

Watched a bit of the original Swedish movie on a bus ride to ... somewhere... knowing me, probably DC or Boston but not sure at this point. Anyway, I was watching/listening to the movie on my laptop via Netflix while I was also doing work/writing a paper. I had to keep covering up the movie because I knew when the uber-graphic/terrifying parts would happen. Also, I didn't want the people sitting next to and behind me to think I was watching some crazy super-BDSM p*rn (if you've read the book you know exactly what parts I'm talking about). I was actually surprised at how accurately they stuck to the book.

And after reading the New York Times review, I can't wait to see the movie! I'm still a bit queasy about the awful s*x/r*pe scenes (again, it was pretty graphic in the book and I'm not looking forward to a film portrayal). Not sure what I'll do - perhaps wait to watch the airplane version? I remember I watched "The Other Boleyn Girl" on a plane first and then when I watched it on Netflix I was like OMG HOW CAN I NOT REMEMBER THE R*PE SCENE!?!?!? It's because there's a carve-out in copyright law that allows editing of graphic/violent parts of movies that are distributed for airplane viewing.

*All the asterisks are so I can hopefully still access my blog through my super-conservative work filter.

DIY Edible Gifts in Jars.

2011-12-30T09:30:00.000-05:00

I forget where I first saw this idea first, but this winter, being low on funds and also creatively energized by all the baking I've been doing, I decided to make and give DIY food gifts.

This site was really helpful for inspiration. I ended up using recipes from this site but made my own tags with a few tweaks to the recipes.

Behold:

Set 1: Baked s'mores on the left and chai tea on the right (doubled the chai tea recipe).

Set 2: Sugar cookies, Baked s'mores, and Chocolate chip muffins. Added Ninjabread cookie cutters for their two boys, a ballerina cookie cutter for my goddaughter, and adorable printed muffin tins.

Finished product!

Unfortunately, I was a bad elf and missed my delivery day because I got wrapped up in organizing the laundry room hehe. Will be giving them out this weekend =)

Under the weather.

2011-12-29T12:30:00.001-05:00

But going to work anyway. A little late but still gotta go. It never ceases to amaze me how hard life is when I'm sick. And I mean in a very practical sense of "hard."

The very act of walking to the kitchen for a glass of water is nigh impossible. I get there and I'm out of breath and dizzy. Every single thing I have to do seems monumental.

Getting out of bed is never easy to begin with and when I'm sick it's seriously such a chore. Getting dressed takes my breath away. Washing up takes forever because I need to take breaks every minute to catch my breath and orient myself.

Admittedly I woke up a little late (NyQuil induced sleep hits me hard) but it also took an inordinate amount of time to get ready. And I did the bare minimum. No makeup or special hair today. And I also just realized I'm not wearing any jewelry either. Really dropped the ball today.

I hope I make it til 5. It's hard to concentrate and do any work when I feel like this but it's really the commute that takes its toll. Being in those enclosed spaces with a bunch of other germ-harboring folks and all the stimuli! All those smells and noises and the pushing and keeping my balance in the subway. It's like sensory overload on an already wired to the brink system.

I just want to crawl back into be and sleep all day. Alas, this is less acceptable for grownups than children for some reason. I'm a huge advocate of ppl staying home when they are less than 100%. Why risk a longer period of semi-invalid status when a few days of nothing but absolute rest will do more to restore your system?

One last thought, if I weren't begging off for a week in the middle of January, I'd totally have stayed home today, too. :/

P.s. I'm scheduling this for later in the day. So don't worry- I'm not actually going in at noon.

Grinch-tastic nails.

2011-12-29T09:30:00.000-05:00

So, I don't think I've written about this yet, but a few months ago I joined Birchbox, a monthly subscription service that sends a personalized (based on your input) box of makeup samples to your door. I heard about it over at Capital Hill Style and decided to try it out for myself. So far, I'm pretty pleased with the service.

You can set your preferences as to what types of goodies you receive and such. One of the settings says I like nailpolish. This is true - I like nailpolish. A lot. And Birchbox has been great about sending me seasonal and trendy nailpolish.

I think the problem is that I'm not a "seasonal and trendy" person. The grey is an example of a trendy fall/winter color (for the past two years now) and the green is festive and Christmas/wintergreen-y I suppose. However, on me, I just look like I'm trying too hard (to be cool? to be young? to be... anyone but me?).

I've done the grey alone and it's passable. But the green is much harder for me to digest. And not just because I'm a lawyer. I think there's something about me that just isn't a glittery emerald nail-rockin' kinda gal. And it's not that I don't do awesome colors - I'm rocking the glittery fuschia and purple combo below RIGHT NOW.

I think it's that - the pink and purple is still a little girly and perhaps sassy in a cute, cheeky "girl power" way. The green is just a tinge more bad*ss. It's like how I'd feel in a micromini and cleavage-baring top (not even). It's how uncomfortable I'd feel in a shoulder-revealing top. It's like I'm advertising myself as someone that I'm not.

Strange, that a nailcolor can make me feel (and think) so much!

Art, after all.

2011-12-28T12:30:00.000-05:00

After all the hullabaloo and hearing/reading/discussing "the Walmart museum" in law school for 3 years, it's finally happened.

Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

Wonder if I'll ever make it down to Arkansas to see it?

Organization Vacation: Laundry Room.

2011-12-28T09:30:00.001-05:00

Continued from this post.

I must admit I was inspired by Kristen over at The Frugal Girl. She somewhat recently cleaned up/out her laundry room.

I kept ignoring my laundry room thinking: this isn't my house so it's not my problem (temporarily camped out at my parents). But I don't think that's fair PLUS it's really been bothering me.

Here are some before photos:

View from the doorway - seriously disorganized shelves (and a whole lot of random stuff including garbage underneath).

Corner of randomness that is impossible to get to.

Floor is covered by drying rack with dry pants from 3 weeks ago and bags of clothes we mean to donate.

So yesterday, on my one day off for the holiday season, I decided to tackle the laundry room. And I MUST say I feel SO SO good.

For starters I moved clothes that weren't really drying (winter coats) and put them where they belong in the foyer closet.

Shelves next to doorway - I grouped by category and found acceptable storage containers for winter accessories and sports paraphernalia.

Consolidated cleaning supplies and excess paper products into the previously useless corner. AND I made a bucket of gift wrapping materials!

Bagged the "to-donate" bins and put them in the trunk to drop off.

The biggest challenge for most people in cleaning projects is that it gets a LOT worse before it gets better. You have to take everything out and it looks messier than it originally was - but once you sort through all that it gets better!

I always start with dividing into 3 categories: 1. Garbage, 2. Belongs here, 3. Belongs somewhere else. This makes it easy to figure out what has to go back into the space. Garbage is the easiest to take care of usually (unless you have a horde of batteries and weird electronics and biochemical waste). Then the "belongs somewhere else stuff" - just take it out of the space you're organizing. Even if you have to temporarily move it back - it's super helpful to see the space with JUST the stuff that HAS to go there so you can figure out what to put where. Anyway, I didn't have to buy anything new - enough garbage/stuff for other rooms came out of the storage containers in the laundry room that all I had to do was re-purpose. So instead of holding a bunch of garbage and random stuff, each container now has a purpose: plastic bin of scarves, plastic bin with sports stuff, bucket of Daddy's hats, all the plastic bags are in the tall metal garbage can, etc.

Do happy lawyers exist?

2011-12-27T09:30:00.001-05:00

Available at Amazon.com

Always a good question to ask, not only about careers in general, but for the one that you are currently pursuing.

I always assumed that lawyering was a means to an end for me. A way to make contacts and gain necessary life experience and marketable job skills for whatever it is I decide I'm passionate about (writing my memoirs in short essays; opening my own day care/nursery school; becoming a professional organizer).

In this Corporette thread discussing whether happy lawyers exist, the ladies dole out some great insight. I especially liked how Kat mentioned that there are people who like law school and people who like practicing law.

I'm not sure where I fall right now, because when I started law school I LOVED IT. But I loved it relative to what I had been doing - being an English-speaking puppet for a country-bumpkin school in Korea for a year (disagreeing wholeheartedly with everyone I had to take orders from not only about education methods and materials but also with the actual substance that I was teaching).

Compared to "working," I fell back into law school and loved it. I loved preparing for class - I loved thinking there was a right answer, I loved the class discussions and the intellectualness of it all. THEN, I started to dislike it. After having "worked," I realized that school is NOT such a big deal. Missing a reading or getting something wrong in class was NOT the end of the world - I had been in worse "emergency" situations in the past year and survived. And perhaps that's where I got too lax.

Although I appreciate the perspective that "working" gave me - that a bad answer or less than stellar grade wasn't the end of the world (there ARE other people whose bad decisions and bad consequences are much worse than "a B+! Oh, NO!!!"), I also think it let me be too forgiving of myself. In that vein, I also lost focus of what I wanted. Since nothing seemed to be a life or death matter for me, I stopped asking myself the hard questions: What did I want to do? What did I like to do? What made me feel good? What could I see myself doing for the next 20-30 years of my life?

Even now, I don't know if there are any "happy" lawyers - for a lot of my friends it seems like this is the lot they chose and now they must make do. And there's a sense of not being able to complain because we are considered so lucky (can't complain about your challenging lawyer job when there are so many people fighting for those positions). Nonetheless, it seems like the job is something some of them merely "put up with" - but for what? The money? Perhaps, we are, presumably, responsible adults who understand how education loans work and the promise we made to pay them back.

But what else? Why are my friends lawyers? So many of them spoke of "changing the world," "making a difference," "helping people who really need it," and now nearly all of them are working in BigLaw at large firms who cater to corporate clients - more often than not defending their clients from indigent or vulnerable folks who have (most likely) been taken advantage of.

I believe I may have lost my kernel of thought - but I guess, I wish I knew more to finding this answer. I recently attended a networking event of women from my undergraduate alma mater and was not surprised to find that I was 1 of 5 JDs in the room. I WAS disappointed to find that I was 1 of 2 currently practicing attorneys and that the other 3 had transitioned into completely non-law-related careers and the 1 practicing attorney had just moved from commercial litigation to an in-house gig and that they were ALL SO HAPPY with their choices to leave practicing BigLaw.

One last note, the guys I've met (who are lawyers) seem to be more accepting, if not satisfied, with their lives as lawyers. On the flip side, many of the women I've met are much more unhappy and much more vocal about their unhappiness. Unfortunately, I'm a woman - so guess what the odds are saying?

One real last note, I think it's important to consider if you're really happy in your job, but it's probably also worth considering if you NEED to be really happy in your job. I've never been one to define myself by my career - and so my career is not where I get the "meaning" or "purpose" in my life. As long as my career/job gives me the means to do what I want OUTSIDE of work and doesn't interfere with my life outside of work too much/unnecessarily, I think I'd find myself pretty happy.

This isn't a very focused post - but just some thoughts thrown together around a fairly loose topic...

Organization Vacation!

2011-12-26T14:44:00.001-05:00

Middle of a (hopefully) one day organization project. Yes, this is what I CHOOSE to do with my free time. :)

And why I'm going to be the most successful professional organizer you know. One day...

UPDATE HERE.

Never again.

2011-12-25T19:17:00.001-05:00

Never driving in NYC again. Not on Christmas. Not through Times Square. How naive of me to think people would be home with their families. Tsk tsk. Not a fan of rookie mistakes :(

Things I appreciate (right now).

2011-12-24T12:13:00.001-05:00

When my friends make me breakfast.

It's so sunny out!!!

My jeans are quite a bit loose.

Being able to text my cousin in Korea Merry Christmas (even if I accidentally woke her up).

Going to assemble some fun Christmas gifts with my sister.

Possibly baking for tomorrow's friendsy Christmas dinner?

Not being a n00b on the bus.

And something I ALWAYS appreciate: GLITTER NAIL POLISH!!!

So, umm... experiments.

2011-12-23T10:51:00.003-05:00

Sad poinsettia

It appears my poinsettia did not approve of the tea. Wish I had a before and after - yesterday it was merely droopy. Today it is all black spotted and diseased and floppy (floppy being even droopier than droopy).

Oh, well. Lesson learned - poinsettias don't like Solomon's Seal tea (what we call doong-gool-leh). My fittonia, on the other hand, is doing just fine.

So, 1 for 2. I'm ok with that.

Apologies.

2011-12-23T09:30:00.000-05:00

I've got a BUNCH BUNCH BUNCH of blog post/ideas in the works. I've just been SUPER busy this week (I'm actually doing work at work!) plus there have been a bunch of after-work events I've been attending (the rush before the holidays and all). BUT I'll try and line up a bunch of posts - there's a few good thinkers coming through.

Happy Holidays to all!!! (will do a more festive one I swear).

And my pre-gift to you: a look at my SERIOUSLY messy room (this is like ... heresy, against me).

My room when I come home late for 4+ nights

UGH ... I literally threw up in my mouth a little just looking at this. SO GLAD I CAME HOME (semi-) EARLY tonight and cleaned that mess up. It's like I can breathe again... aahhhhhh... =)

Holy poopers, it's past 1am ... UGH so late!!!

Innovation!

2011-12-22T17:18:00.001-05:00

My poinsettia looked a little droopy. So, I watered it with my tea. Brilliant, right? :)

Useful Tuesday: Use a (hard) lunchbox.

2011-12-20T10:27:00.001-05:00

My current lunchbox is a soft reusable bag from Bare Minerals. Look what my commute did to my bananas and mini banana cream pies. Very sad face. :(

Marketing that makes women feel insecure works.

2011-12-19T15:50:00.001-05:00

Walking on sidewalk to orthodontist appointment and a sandwich board guy for eyebrow waxing looks at me and laughs under his breath. Now I'm totally self conscious about my eyebrows. Should I go in and get them done? O.o

Source: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_wvXioOT-BeA/TCu3KTAUufI/AAAAAAAAALQ/NGarSD-qoSM/s1600/bushy+1.jpg

The man who looked at things.

2011-12-19T12:30:00.000-05:00

And to acknowledge the passing of a man who looked at things: http://kimjongillookingatthings.tumblr.com/ (via my good friend WM).

What is wrong with these men?

2011-12-19T09:30:00.000-05:00

Image source

So a guy friend brought this to my attention a few years ago: the two voicemails left by "Dmitri" for Olga.

But this other crazy guy via the Internet is new to me (via intern in my office): i-banker's email about being led on.

Seriously, where do these guys come from? What is their deal?

Their neuroses are not actually what I have a problem with. To be honest, it sounds exactly like the post-incident super-analysis a (normal) girl would do. WITH HER GIRLFRIENDS. IN PRIVATE. WITHOUT EVER SHARING THESE THOUGHTS WITH THE GUY.

The truly notable thing about these two incidents, other than the fact that they were made public and viral via the Interweb, is the amount of time and energy that the guy put into their response (to the girl's in/action). Most guys are either "into" a girl or not. And when a girl dismisses a guy she's NOT into, it usually gets brushed off.

You don't see a whole film genre or subset of TV shows revolving around men getting together and discussing/analyzing their love lives (HIMYM might seem like an exception but it's about one guy telling his kids about his dating life - not sitting around with his guy friends at brunch dishing about his weekend escapades a la Sex and the City). Although I'll admit I'm seeing a lot more of "sensitive guy dealing with girl issues" in the past few years, it's usually just one part of the guy's character - the show or movie itself is not about the sensitive guy sitting around over-analyzing his girl problems with his bro-sephs (movies like "(500) Days of Summer" - albeit still at the rate of perhaps 1 or 2 films a year).

I'm not gonna get all sexist and generalize and say that men shouldn't have feelings or thoughts. But you see things like the voicemails and email above and you just wanna say, YOU'RE A GUY. SHE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU. GET OVER IT.

So, here's my PSA: Dudes everywhere, please don't be a creepster. I'm not gonna lie, sometimes ladies can be confusing: some girls are shy and we're told to deflect attention or play hard-to-get. So if you must, then please push GENTLY, ask her out once again BUT NICELY. If she still says NO, or nothing at all, let it go. You are not going to convince me/us/her to date you with your horribly offensive overanalysis of my mental state and childhood experiences based on our chance encounter in the street (in the case of Dmitri) or your crazy overanalysis of our one dinner date (iBanker). Trust me, there's enough of that overanalysis going on over here from the lady's POV.

Edit: This latter example of a "crazy guy" in the form of a "JPMorgan Don Juan" was just brought to my attention - although I must say this is a quite different context, it still merits a mention (the 1st two being overcritical "Why don't you like me?" pleas after an initial contact that resulted in no followup and this JPMorgan guy being someone who is taking a breakup UBER-badly - in a lying crazy stalker way).

Posting problems.

2011-12-16T10:47:00.001-05:00

Will return soon.

How I Met Your Mother: Symphony of Illumination

2011-12-15T12:00:00.000-05:00

Was it just me, or did anyone else cry at the end of this episode?

I've always been told I'm uber-sensitive, but the way Ted takes care of Robin, saying how he doesn't need to know why she's upset but that it'll always be his job to cheer her up... GAHHHHH!!!! (synopsis here)

My mom's always told me that true "wealth" or "riches" comes in the form of true friends. The kind that will do anything for you and love you no matter what - the kind of friends who are there for you and will pick you up when you fall (especially when you fall and don't want to get up).

Maybe it's part of getting older, growing apart, living in different places. But I felt like I had those kinds of best friends in college and now I'm not as sure. Maybe I'm just not in such a bad place - and if I were those friends would come running, infantry charging. Because that's the good thing about "forever friends" - you don't have to be the kind that talk everyday or see each other all the time - you've already forged that foundation and you have someone you can count on.

I do miss it though - miss having someone you can tell anything to. Someone to call anytime and they are there for you. Without judging. With absolute discretion. Someone who is outside of your situation but on your side. Someone who may not get what you're going through but is a good listener and supporter nonetheless. Who knows how to just let you be you without the pressure to be perky and happy and perfect all the time. Someone who doesn't pressure you into being just a "fun" friend.

I've watched the entire SATC series and both movies and I have to say, I'm not jealous of the clothes, shoes, parties, fabulous apartments, etc. I'm so admirous(? do I mean envious?) of their bond. In the first movie when all the girls drop everything (job, kids, family, etc.) after SJP gets stood up at her wedding to support her. That's what I want - not (just) Manolo Blahniks or a beautiful UES apartment or a fabulous job, I want just a handful of women who I know would come be with me at the drop of a hat. Just because I need it.

And THAT, kids, is why I cried at the end of HIMYM - because Ted is that kind of a friend to Robin and it was SO BEAUTIFUL AND HEARTWARMING!!!

Inspiration and Execution: A casual work look!

2011-12-15T09:30:00.000-05:00

More work outfits! Sorry my life is so boring - I wish I could do posts of fun outfits, but I really do just wear work clothes and having always interned and worked in law offices rather than in fun fashiony jobs, my work clothes are rather tame. But hopefully, I can use this as a space to reflect on how to "jazz up" a rather boring template.

So, here's a rather casual Friday outfit.

Inspired by Belle from Capitol Hill Style (for her - featuring the peeptoe flats again but for me, I liked the pairing of the casual blue shirt with a black pencil skirt).

I also came across this Polyvore set I'd saved a while ago (I have no idea what I would've saved it for - normally I look up specific pieces that I have trouble with and save a bunch of sets that use that one item but I don't recall looking for any of the pieces in this set - maybe brown boots?).

I don't have a chambray shirt, honestly I'm not a "casual" person (lol!) and have no idea how I would wear it in real life unless I were... calling in the ranch hands after a day of "working the land." Nonetheless, using these two casual inspirations, I was able to create an outfit around a blue oxford polo shirt I had worn somewhat often to class and found much too casual to wear to work.

I actually liked doing a casual shirt with the black pencil skirt because it made it easy to wear brown and black together (with the brown helping make the black more casual). Wore a dark brown belt and lighter brown ankle boots. I think I wore a dark grey turtleneck but now think I could've done brown as well. I wore black tights because of Belle's 2 out of 3 rule and my brown tights looked a little weird.

Good? Bad? Should I just give up trying to casual myself and stick with the formality that I'm comfortable with?

What does this say about me?

2011-12-14T14:30:00.000-05:00

Last night I received the two following videos from friends via email:

From college guy friend: "this reminds me of your fighting skills"

From college girl friend: "THIS is how you meet your new husband...."

Inspiration and Execution: Sheer black blouse and Chanel-y jacket

2011-12-14T09:30:00.000-05:00

I have this Milly blouse that I love but could only wear it out to bars with friends because I couldn't figure out how to make it more day/work-appropriate. So when Belle at Capital Hill Style posted this Three Ways she helped solve one of my work conundrums: how to make a sheer black blouse work-appropriate.

My take:

My jacket is a little less Chanel-y than the inspiration jacket, but it's a white knit jacket with ladylike ruffles.

I'm horribly unphotogenic even when you can't see my face (how sad is that?). I swear the outfit was SUPER-cute in person. I got compliments at work and even my mom was super-impressed that morning and commented that I had put together a really good outfit.

I need to figure out how to take better pictures. This is just getting embarrassing...

Blaghhh!!!

2011-12-14T09:16:00.001-05:00

So late for work today. Bus is leaving now... Overturned tractor trailers will do that to one's schedule you know. AND I need to leave the office early... Must make up some serious time next week! :(

Useful Tuesday: PR Pros Share Secrets on Getting to the Next Level

2011-12-13T15:00:00.000-05:00

I think I saw this short article on Twitter somewhere and sent it to myself to read later.

Nothing too groundbreaking or new, but nothing wrong with a refresher.

I've always heard that the part I quote below is one of the hardest things for women in the workplace to do. We're just not "taught" that this is acceptable behavior.

How important is tooting your own horn—how do you do it? What if you feel awkward about “bragging”? How can a woman overcome that?
Toot your own horn, just not too loudly. Strike a balance between passive and pesky. It's tricky, especially if you feel awkward about touting your accomplishments. One effective way is not only to pat yourself on the back, but also to pat others harder. When working on a team, don't just highlight the good work you are doing, include and promote co-workers' contributions as well.

I was at the Harvard APALSA conference this past spring and attended a panel entitled "Women in Leadership." ~~I forget the exact list of speakers~~ Here's the list of speakers (they were impressive). One of the women said that you need a brag buddy - this is easier for women than bragging about yourself. She said to get yourself a brag buddy, which is like a (lady) wingman but for networking events and such instead of bars and broads. I really liked this idea because it seems a lot more natural and perhaps even more sincere when a friend is singing your praises rather than doing it yourself (of course, this might be harder to do within your own organization - especially if it's rather competitive - but you can find a brag buddy in a different department or specialty to do this for you with your own superiors at work events - and of course you should reciprocate!). I've been trying to do it (secretly!) with one unni of mine at networking events I drag her to - I hope it works!

I will say, though, their last tip is one of the easiest and super-importantest ones to do.

What kind of paper follow-up do you need after an introduction or interview?
Send an email within 24 hours of the conversation; then a handwritten note within the week of the meeting; and make a follow-up phone call or email two weeks after the meeting if you haven't yet heard back. If you opt for the latter, it's always good to dig around for some industry news or relevant article tied to your conversation that you can share to show that you are still engaged.

I don't know about the handwritten note (unless I was invited to coffee at the person's home or something similar that took more effort) but I try to email people that I've recently met (usually at a networking or bar event) within the next few days following up on something we discussed and asking if they wouldn't mind continuing that conversation. Most people I've done this with have been very receptive. Some people are very busy but even those people usually respond and say email or telephone works. I'd highly recommend following up quickly though - you want to be one of the memorable ones!

Inspiration and Execution: Club Monaco Layers

2011-12-13T09:30:00.000-05:00

I don't feel like thinking this week(end) so my pre-written, scheduled posts shall continue to be Inspiration and Executions. This one is "fun" because it's not strictly a work outfit. Although I think if you worked in a more casual office or switched up the pants for some trousers, it would be totally work appropriate.

A pretty layered look from Club Monaco's Spring 2012 collection (I believe). Yup, just checked and I got the image from Mizhattan.

Wore my version of it out to lunch in the city this past Saturday.

Luckily, I already had all the basic pieces. I did switch out the springy lightwash for a more season and weather-appropriate darker wash denim - but kept the (what my mother calls) "pantalones" shape, what I guess would be a wider leg trouser/bellbottom cut.

Club Monaco styled it with a brown bag and I like how it grounded an otherwise pale and potentially washed out palette. I wore it with my Louis Vuitton Speedy 35 in Damier Ebene.

What do you think? A pretty close interpretation, no?

Swearing in ceremony outfit: NJ edition.

2011-12-12T09:30:00.000-05:00

So, I had posted a few weeks ago about what to wear to my swearing in ceremony for NJ. I had quite a few helpful suggestions from my question over at Corporette (I'm comment 14).

I ended up going with the skirt suit because something about pants suits screams "CASUAL" and "HILLARY" (as in Clinton) to me. And I pulled a hybrid for my shirt. It was both a button-up and a silk blouse. I wore a silk button-up blouse with a fancy ruffle collar (I wanted to wear something fun and festive and fancy to signal it wasn't just any other work day!).

Here are close-ups of the ruffle details from eBay (so you can see it's not just any old button-up):

Whole blouse (mine is gold)

Collar and cuff detail

Isn't the blouse lovely? I think it was originally $495 or so at Saks but my wonderful mother purchased it on crazy-sale in the fall of 2008 (purging of merchandise when ppl stopped shopping after the financial mortgage crisis/collapse of the big banks) for something like $100. I usually feel a bit too uncomfortable to wear something so luxe to my government workplace but it was perfect for a special event!

Originally tried black tights but something seemed a bit off.

And as the kind commenter AnonInfinity pointed out, collar out seemed a little wonky, so:

The official outfit in full was collar in, nude-for-me hose (except the sheen on the hose makes my calves look uber-wide):

Food on Friday 8. Birthday Cake.

2011-12-09T09:30:00.000-05:00

So, late again - but here's today's Food post.

Being a recent graduate school grad and working at a government fellowship left me (more than) a little low on funds this year, so I offered to bake my sister a cake, ANY cake, she desired for her birthday. This was a simple enough request and I received a simple enough answer: funfetti cake.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with funfetti cake, a picture below:

Funfetti Cake

So, being an aspiring gourmand, I looked up homemade versions of a white cake and even looked up how to make homemade sprinkles from scratch! But no, she didn't want ANY of that. She just really wanted funfetti cake with NO icing. I mean, I'm not a fan of icing either but a cake with no icing just looks ugly and naked. I wanted to make her a BEAUTIFUL FABULOUS BIRTHDAY CAKE.

Finally, I convinced my sister to let me make a frosting for people who don't like frosting (of which I am one). And she caved. The process, below.

The recipe for the cake is from the box. I found the frosting recipe at Our Best Bites, and OHMYGOODNESS they are my new favorite website in the WHOLE. WIDE. WORLD. Seriously, I've bookmarked every recipe they post, sweet, savory, meat, dessert, ALL. OF. IT. I've made a few of their recipes since discovering their site (you can see my links from previous Food on Friday posts). Also, I love that there's such a devoted following of readers who try the recipes and add suggestions and comments. I've read through their hundreds of comments to tweak a few of the recipes.

Now, onto the CAKE.


Prior to assembly

Clockwise from top left: an upside-down cake cooling, mint green frosting, and bottom layer already frosted with star sprinkles.

The upside-down cake is the 2nd layer and about to go onto the frosting in the middle "gluing" the 2 layers together, I wanted to make the bottom was completely cool and wouldn't melt the in-between frosting. And although the frosting recipe warns against adding too much liquid element, I found that it dealt with the liquid food coloring just fine.

Frosted and encircled with star sprinkles

I could definitely learn to frost a cake smoother.

Final product!

Cross-section of a slice

Definitely could've made MORE frosting and put MORE in between the 2 layers. Also, could've used 2 boxes of cake mix and made a bigger/higher cake. Also, perhaps I ought to invest in a cake slicer/leveler. It'll depend on how many more cakes I foresee baking. I have to admit, I really like cupcakes as an alternative as "mini-cakes." You'll see some mini-pies coming up soon!

P.S. If you have not heard me rant about this frosting in person, just know that I have been baking things JUST to serve as frosting receptacles, aka a vehicle to get the frosting into my mouth. It's THAT good.

Inspiration and Execution: Twist-front top and suit.

2011-12-08T09:30:00.000-05:00

Maybe I'll think of a better name (especially if this becomes a regular thing).

In college I started to keep a notebook with clippings of outfits I've liked (from catalogs and magazines mostly) and now I have a digital folder with outfits and pictures from the Internet. I started this because my mom got tired of me calling her in the morning (when I was away in college) and asking her what I should wear (yes, I'm aware that I might have some attachment/mommy issues).

Anyway, I sometimes feel like I get stuck in a style rut and like to keep images for inspiration. I also started photographing my daily outfits - first because I liked documenting outfits that I really liked but then it turned into a bit of a documentary project. I found patterns and habits and comfort zones.

For example, I wear a lot of solid colors. Most of my wardrobe is solid and it falls into two color/season categories. My fall/winter clothes are black/grey/navy and my spring/summer clothes are yellow/pink/white. I own hardly any blue, green, purple, red (no saturated colors, really) and not that much in the brown/khaki family.

I have NO prints - sometimes I get as adventurous as a wide-stripe or a polka dot accent. So, I started to try and buy some more clothes with prints on them. (I'll have to document some examples of my old habits and new trials sometime).

Anyway, the point of THIS entry is to share an inspiration outfit and my actual outfit. So here goes,

The inspiration outfit was from a series called "Three Ways" by the lovely Miss Belle over at Capitol Hill Style.

I didn't have a grey top like that - but I did have a black one so my version of the outfit inverted the colors. I wore a charcoal grey pinstripe skirt suit with a black knot/twist-front jersey shell. (Sorry about the horrible lighting - you can barely see the contrast in color). And as per Belle's suggestion, I wore rather large-ish-for-me earrings.

The color contrast is a LITTLE better here - but I'll try for better lighting/contrast next time. And I know her "Three Ways" if focused on the shoe - but for me, it was really the outfit that I'd liked. I just don't like peeptoe flats. I don't find them attractive on my vamp and I think it's just a little, too, forced (hard to explain).

What do you think? Was this a faithful "execution" outfit? Should I have stuck closer to the inspiration? What would you have done differently?

December???

2011-12-07T09:30:00.000-05:00

Looked at a calendar. WHAT THE WHAAAT?!?!?!!!! How is it December already? Remember when it was New Year's? Then my birthday? Then graduation? Then the summer? Then the bar exam? Then work?

OMG. Time seriously flies. Can't believe it's December. I feel so unprepared - like, emotionally for the end of the year.

Well, at least I have all my Christmas traditions to look forward to. I love them. Already saw my goddaughter in The Nutcracker (this past Saturday) CHECK! Next? Gotta watch Elf (one of my favorite movies of all time).

Seriously - trying to make the most of each day left in this (less than) last month of the year.

I could ask what you'd hoped to achieved this year (y'kno, like what was your new year's resolution) but it's probably much less depressing to ask, What Christmas traditions do you look forward to?

Pig of Happiness.

2011-12-06T09:30:00.000-05:00

Available on Amazon.com

What a lovely idea.

I don't even remember where I saw this but it just struck me as so lovely that I snapped a picture of it so that I could look it up.

I wish I could see the BEST in EVERYONE and EVERYTHING. Seriously, that's truly how one could become happy.

Someone buy me this book for Christmas, please?

(P.S. This counts as a Useful Tuesday post because it is VERY useful to have a positive attitude and to be happy!)

My weekends.

2011-12-05T09:30:00.001-05:00

True story of my life. Except I bake first, then sit and eat the fruit of my labor while lounging on my couch.

Teehee. It's just a time-thing. I'm full of energy on Sunday night and Monday, even on Tuesday and make all these grand plans for the weekend. Then it's Friday at 7pm and I can barely keep myself awake and I slip in and out of dreams about whatever doc review I've been doing all week.

Sad, but true.

TGIF!!!

2011-12-02T17:21:00.001-05:00

Woken up at 5am every morning and either left work late or brought it home every night this week. Worked past 12:30 last night. Just got out of all-day deposition and so happy to be headed home. Lincoln Tunnel/Route 3, please don't be a nightmare!

Fingers crossed!

Food on Friday 7. Halloween Candy Corn Cookies!!

2011-12-02T09:30:00.000-05:00

So I previously blogged about what to bake for Halloween.

I made these adorable Candy Corn Sugar Cookies.

I used the same sugar cookie recipe from this post about jam thumbprint cookies but tripled it.

Followed the food coloring directions - it was weird and marbled at first but the more I handled the dough, the color evened out and the dough came together (remember how I said it was so crumbly last time?)

I actually think pictures are really helpful for this recipe.

Then you line a bread pan (I used a narrow shoe box) lined with cellophane. Just go in the right order and try to get your layers as flat as possible.

Cross-section

Then, refrigerate/chill for QUITE SOME TIME so they'll be easier to cut/handle (it feels SUPER-long b/c you get so excited about making/eating the cookies!)

Use the overhanging cellophane to lift the tri-colored block out of the box, then cut 1/2 inch slices. I followed some reviewer suggestions and coated my knife in powdered sugar (instead of flour) so you don't make it too doughy/taste too flour-y. You can see a flat slice in the top-right of the picture below.

Then cut the slice into triangles!

On their way into the oven! So, when you cut the flat rectangular slice on diagonals to make triangles, inevitably half of the candy corns will come out with the colors reversed!

They get a little rounded as they bake so I found the sharper you cut them, the better. Also, you can really see what I mean about my wonky oven. The back of it has much stronger heat than the front (perhaps it's drafty?). So I've taken to rotating the pan halfway through the suggested baketime (for whatever it is that I'm making). And that helps with no noticeable increase in baking time.

A sample of two cookies (you can see what I mean by upside-down colors). I saved these from my co-workers (I brought in 50 at least! and they were gone in an hour!).

Oh, and I added just a touch of cinnamon (1/4 tsp) to make it taste more fall/autumn-y!

I like: Sarcastic Op-Eds.

2011-12-01T09:30:00.000-05:00

I know she's neither running nor mentioned - but she's an image search top hit for "silly republicans" for a reason, right?

Gail Collins starts off her Thanksgiving column thusly:

This year I am giving thanks for the Republican presidential debates.

And goes on to explain why (article here). I love SNARK. Teehee.

GAH - I just tried to pick a few choice quotes to include here and I couldn't choose any one ... just go and read it.

I love that she finds them so entertaining - but I'm a little worried we ("latte liberals") don't take these folks as seriously as we should. As in, we shouldn't assume other voters find them as amusing and perhaps as harmless as they actually SHOULD be, y'know, if everyone USED their brain... and so we let things slide instead of jumping on how dumb/politically incorrect/obtuse/incorrect/uninformed these candidates are and pointing it out to the voting populace.

Roommates.

2011-11-30T09:30:00.000-05:00

It's tough.

I'll admit I'm probably not the easiest roommate to live with. But I do have a very defined set of rules and guidelines to live by.

My sister sent me the picture below with the following comment: "hahahahaha instantly reminded me of you"

Last picture at 20 Hysterical Roommate Notes

I will say that my law school roommate was probably one of the nicest, most cheerful people I've ever met but we didn't quite see eye-to-eye on how to keep a house.

I finally started leaving her notes - nothing quite so clever as this - although I wish I had.

I did start something along these lines:

2nd pic from 20 Hysterical Roommate Notes

My note said the following:

Original work (c) ChristineisPink

My mom said: "You might be right, but no one's gonna like you."

Ahh - the price of being self-righteous...

Silver Fox.

2011-11-29T23:26:00.001-05:00

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeep!!!

So so SO excited for tomorrow!

Source: http://www.nndb.com/people/482/000047341/cooper.jpg

Useful Tuesday! Save. US.

2011-11-29T09:30:00.001-05:00

Interesting, yet simple, explanation of why the US is full of big spenders and Europe, thrifty savers.

Why We Spend, Why They Save.

Few Americans appreciate that the prosperous economies of western and northern Europe are among the world’s greatest savers. Over the past three decades, Germany, France, Austria and Belgium have maintained household saving rates between 10 and 13 percent, and rates in Sweden recently soared to 13 percent. By contrast, saving rates in the United States dropped to nearly zero by 2005; they rose above 5 percent after the 2008 crisis but have recently fallen below 4 percent.

Nearly ZERO!??!?! That's CRAZY!!!

START SAVING, PEOPLE!!! On that note, I rather enjoyed this book: The Simple Dollar, written by Trent Hamm based on his blog.


Source

I read it on my Kindle for iPhone app and highlighted a whole bunch of things - trying to figure out how I can "export" that info somehow - to print or at least save in a document for later perusal.

So, I'm starting another "weekly" thing: Useful Tuesday! Hopefully, I'll share useful advice, tips, and other information on Tuesday (just like how I share Food on Friday!)

OK - OMG - sharing TWO useful things today. 1 was SAVE YO MONEY!!!

2 is HOW AMAZING IS KINDLE!??!?!
If you have the Kindle or a Kindle app (as I do), your highlights and notes will still be saved in the book, as well as at kindle.amazon.com!!! How amazing is that??? I've been hoarding these books on my iPhone b/c I didn't know how to get access to all the awesome stuff I had highlighted within Kindle.

I just logged onto kindle.amazon.com and saw all the bits I had highlighted over the past few months. AMAZING. I've said it before and I'll say it again - when done right, technology seriously makes life so amazing.

I. LOVE. TECH. NOLOGY.

Check out how to do cool stuff on Kindle apps here.

Real.

2011-11-29T01:10:00.001-05:00

In less than 12 hours I will be a real. live. lawyer.

At least in New Jersey :)

Image Sources:
http://www.lifecoachlaurie.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/the-real-deal.jpg

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_qE-BDlOZiU0/S5u9yoTdYNI/AAAAAAAABOQ/5FGU-wQdh84/s320/mission-accomplished.jpg

What to wear to a swearing-in ceremony?

2011-11-28T09:56:00.001-05:00

Source

Unlike NY, whose registration to take the bar exam is almost too quick and painless, NJ requires your application to the bar to be submitted way back in April as part of the exam registration.

What this means is that while in NY, finding out you passed the bar is the first step to completing your application to the bar, in NJ, the bar score is the last step.

I found out that I passed the NJ bar exam on November 17th and the swearing-in ceremony is tomorrow in Trenton.

I figured I'd wear a suit, but trying to decide on the details, I turned to Google.
(Details: skirt vs. pants? button-up vs. blouse? scarf or brooch?)

One of the top hits: The Dos and Don'ts of Swearing-In Fashion.

Hmm... maybe I'll try to pick up a sequined cowboy hat on my way home from work today?
Or better, since I'm from NJ, I'll go get a nice orange spray tan a la Jersey Shore to represent?

I also posted the question over at Corporette, so hopefully I'll get some responses there.

Siblings (rivalry?). Aww.

2011-11-28T09:30:00.000-05:00

Sometimes, I get really really REALLY sad that my sister and I will never be able to share a moment like this (starts with highlight #3 at 0:30s):

PLUMLEE BROTHERS!!!

Mason, a junior, #5 passes his rebound to his older brother Miles, a senior, #21 for an amazing sibling assist. How AWESOME it must be to be able to share that kind of TEAMWORK and a SENSE OF ACHIEVEMENT with your sibling!!! They don't show it in the clip but right after that dunk Mason runs over and does the intense manly "YEA!!!" buttslap to Miles. I nearly died of jealousy right then. I wish my sister and I were that good at and intense about something.

Not to say we don't get along - quite the contrary. I couldn't live without her. She claims I can't even get the salt from the other side of the table without her (quite possibly true).

But our sort of teamwork is more along the lines of, I'll be trying to get something from the back of a fridge that looks like the one below (because my mom still buys food like my sister and I are in high school and eating 4000 calories a day) and when things start toppling and falling out on me my sister will come and help me out.

Source

That's great and quite a feat, but not quite ferocious manly athletic "YEA!!! YOU GOT IT!!!" buttslapping material. Le sigh.

Food on Friday 6. Buttermilk Pancakes.

2011-11-25T09:30:00.001-05:00

I'm not sure how this happened - but I was with Girlfriend 1when I decided to call up Girlfriend 2 and told her we were coming over. Not only were we coming over but weexpected breakfast, please, feed us!

For some reason (probably, my friends aresuper-super-awesome), Girlfriend 2 actually complied despite her ridiculoushangover.

We went over and were greeted with beautiful fluffybuttermilk pancakes.

Naturally I asked for the recipe. I believe it's this recipe from Allrecipes.com but I make afew tweaks.

I only use 1 tablespoon of vinegar and add enough milk tofill 1 cup of liquid (milk). Ialso don't whisk out all the lumps - I barely combine the wet and dryingredients. The lumps are ok andwork themselves out on the frying pan as they cook. If you combine too much - you risk making your finishedproduct too tough and chewy rather than light and fluffy. I also cook over very low heat onnonstick-coated pan w/no cooking oil.

I made these a few weeks ago for a weekend brunch and they were uber-delicious and oh-so-fluffy!

And you can add whatever you want to mix it up!

Here's an example of when I wanted to use up some pineappleand blueberries we had. I justdrop in the fruit on top of the 1/4 cupful of batter in the frying pan.

Thanks.Giving.

2011-11-24T09:30:00.000-05:00

Friends: Season 4 Episode 8 The One with Chandler in a Box

Sometimes, I find it's easier to look at the people around me and just give thanks that I'm me, instead of them.

=)

(I try to pre-write and schedule these - but I just saw this new version of the same episode and wanted to add it)

An almost confession. And a real contest!

2011-11-24T01:29:00.001-05:00

Was tired and ready for bed 2 hours ago. But just getting to sleep now.

Too embarrassed to share why...
Oh, the things I get "addicted" to...

But I'm not sorry. Because its *FUN*
Teehee. Guess what it is and I'll bake you a treat of your choice!

Source: http://blogs.publishersweekly.com/blogs/PWxyz/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/shame.jpg

Read to your kid.

2011-11-23T09:30:00.000-05:00

Source

I had a professor in college, she taught Human Development, and she used to tell us, "If you remember one thing from my class, from all of college, it should be this: Read to your kids."

She would cite some studies and tell us anecdotes, but she just couldn't overemphasize that we should read to our kids.

My mom read to me A LOT when I was little. And I always had a wall of books in my room. And any book I asked for, she would buy me. I had BOXES of books in addition to my wall. And I just passed the bar exam in TWO2TWO states.

Not so much with my sister. And we've all home-diagnosed her with some form of adult ADD/ADHD.

So, I'm gonna go with... this NYTimes article is probably onto something.

READ. TO. YO. KIDS.

Let's eBates together!

2011-11-22T09:30:00.000-05:00


Just came in the mail today!

(taken with my iPhone)

(I love turning words into verbs).

Is eBates for real? So, I've tried spreading the word before via Facebook and I think a lot of people thought that my Facebook page got hacked and spammed.

How does eBates work? I'm not sure exactly how it works (I assume eBates charges the retailers who are listed an advertising or membership fee of some sort) but eBates is a cashback program based on your online spending. I first read about it via Tiffany at I am Style-Ish and decided to try it out.

Basically you just use eBates' link to the retailers' site before you make a purchase. I often will put things in my shopping bag (which gets stored for a period of time), go back to eBates to see if the retailer is listed and then click through to make my purchase. (Sorry, that is a horrible description, just go to eBates, sign in, then use their link to the store before you make a purchase).

I've found it pretty intuitive but just in case, another description on how to use it from Tiffany's blog:

I've had a few people ask me to help with how to use ebates so just a quick summary: First thing, bookmark ebates! I have it saved in my bookmarks toolbar (I use Firefox where you can do that, not sure about other browsers) and when I want to start doing some online shopping I make sure to click on ebates before doing any browsing. When you are on ebates, you can then click on one of the links for the stores they show or do a search for the store you are looking for. I did a search for Nordstrom below and as you can see the Nordstrom link came up first and it's 5% cashback. (The other links that came up are similar type stores but it's handy to see them in case you want to shop there too). Click on the "Shop Now" button and then voila! you're on the Nordstrom site! That link will remember that you clicked through and then will give you the cashback once you buy something. The cashback will show up in your account within a few days of your purchases.

Here's a screenshot of my last eBates' earnings:

There are SO many stores on there - I've made purchases at Gap, The Limited, Victoria's Secret, Land's End, Nordstrom, Sephora, even The Home Depot is on there. Just check it out. Since I've cut back on my spending, I haven't used the site as much - but I always make sure to check.

Also, they have daily and weekly specials where you get double the normal % cash back and other discounts. I was actually going to buy my Clarisonic Mia from the Clarisonic website and then checked whether anyone on eBates sold it - and bought 2 (1 for the sister) from the SkinStore ON SALE and then got cash back.

Sign up through my referral link and I'll earn $5!!!

*Post not sponsored by eBates. I just wanted to spread the word before holiday shopping really gets underway!

Hi, I'm Mat.

2011-11-21T09:30:00.000-05:00

HEHE.

HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE!!!!!

I have a friend getting married next year (I'm honored to be in her bridal party) and I really want to find this and get it for her as a small housewarming gift because her fiance's name is Matt.

And they are just the right kind of nerdy that they'll find funny (and I do, too!).

Sunday nights vs. Monday mornings.

2011-11-21T00:43:00.001-05:00

Source

This is EXACTLY how I feel right now.

Still finishing up a memo that's due tomorrow morning and knowing I have to go into work and finish up a memo that was due last week.

(Hey, 1 out of 2 memos on time is better than 2 out of 2 memos late!).

Food on Friday 5: Pasta Carbonara. (A Quest!).

2011-11-18T09:30:00.000-05:00

So, there was a boy who was terrified of my cooking and the only American food he claimed to like was pasta carbonara. Naturally, I had to learn to make the BEST! PASTA! CARBONARA! EVARRR!!!

This was quite an experiment - because I had to learn to make it on my own first, before I could dish it up and "WOW!" the boy.

Naturally, my first instinct was to check it out on Wikipedia to see the "roots" of the dish.

And as per my usual recipe "method," I then looked up all the carbonara recipes on Food Network and AllRecipes.com to check ratios and common ingredients.

Here are some of my attempts. This was probably my first attempt - SPAM was the only pork-meat I had and I grated my parmigiano-reggiano using a KNIFE and scraping the block of cheese against the side of a bowl.

A little watery and not "mixed/melted" enough.

A little watery still and still not quite enough CHEESE.

I think I made this one for a visiting friend with lunch meat and edamame and still pretty watery.

Back to SPAM but adding broccoli - doesn't the green really dress it up?
This is also when I started getting my working ratios down.

The recipe:

Serves 2

Cook 2 servings of your choice of pasta according to directions on box (it's traditionally done with long noodles but I like shapes and ridges b/c I find it "holds" the sauce better) - here it's 1 1/2 cups of medium shells
While pasta is cooking, whisk 1 egg, then stir in 1 cup grated parmigiano reggiano and a few pinches of truffle salt.
I cut up 1/2 a broccoli head here and browned it with a single-serving SPAM slice
Drain the pasta, leaving maybe a 1/4 cup or less of pasta water.
Add HOT pasta into egg/cheese mixture and stir vigorously! (the heat from the pasta melds/cooks/melts the egg and cheese into a sauce)
Mix in meat/veggie and keep stirring.
Add 7 cracks of black pepper (or to taste) and split into 2 servings!
VOILA!

With fish roe (I just love the bright colors!)

Used marinated chicken instead of pork - tasted great but not as pretty

The Process:

Cheese and egg mixture

Thick-cut bacon (closer to the traditional guanciale) and tomato bits

Hot pasta (gemelli) and egg/cheese being stirred together

Add the meat/veggies

And enjoy!

So as you can see, I think the traditional recipe is great as a base to work off of. I try to use whatever pork-meat I have but chicken and shrimp have worked just as well. I also try to mix in a(ny) veggie in b/c I feel a little indulgent eating just cheese and meat and pasta.

As it turns out, I never ended up making it for the boy but have an impressive yet quick, easy, and versatile pasta dish!

Sshhh!!!

2011-11-18T01:17:00.001-05:00

Secret confessions. They only come late at night...
(and let's be real, 1am on a weeknight is plenty late for me.)

Sometimes... Sometimes... Even I get tired of thinking ahead and planning.

It happened last week before my trip to Boston. And it's happening now before the weekend.

Sshhh. Don't tell anyone.

Source: http://theheartofhenna.blogspot.com/2011/08/secret-single-behavior.html (iPhone app doesn't allow embedding of links?)

Belated realizations.

2011-11-17T21:12:00.001-05:00

You know that feeling of contentment (contentedness? content?) and satisfaction you get when you have crossed off everything on your to-do list and even worked ahead and gotten future things done and out of the way?

And then you realize that OH-NO! you really haven't crossed off anything?

I just got that feeling about tomorrow's Food on Friday post.
I just threw a bunch of pictures in there and didn't add the text.
Eep! Gotta go do that now!!!

UGHHH.

2011-11-17T15:14:00.001-05:00

From Hyperbole and a Half.

I definitely deserve this for today.

Why so melancholy???

Just 2 hours left. Let's see if I can't manage a bit o' work.

OWS.

2011-11-17T10:04:00.001-05:00

I'll be the first to admit, I didn't take the OWS-ers seriously when they first started. I mean, come ON, who starts to occupy a park just as the weather takes a turn for the colder?

Nonetheless, I agree with their "statement" (since it seems more of a statement they are making than an actual message/objective).

And I also think some of my fascination (because let's face it, I'm really not a "current events" kind of person) comes from their proximity to my workplace. They've been living in my eating-lunch park (well, they were until this past Tuesday).

And this morning my commute was a little disrupted by their/the police activity and so naturally it was the first thing I looked up on Google when I (finally) got in.

I read this article from the LA Times. The description below could totally have been me walking to my non-paying "job," except my Burberry is KHAKI, thank-you-very-much.

One woman wearing a black Burberry coat and carrying a briefcase appeared frustrated but was smiling as she was slowed by the crowds.

Frustrated b/c they are making it hard for me to get into work b/c A) the sidewalks are overcrowded and B) my building has shut down 3 of our 4 entrances.
Smiling b/c I agree with a lot of what I've read are their complaints and frustrations (if not their method) and because if my fancy schmancy law school didn't care so much about its ranking in US News and World Report, I wouldn't have a non-paying office to go to right now.

Then I started reading their live feed and then linked over to watch via their ustream feed.

Because I'm too scared to go watch in person b/c I've never been pepper-sprayed and would like to keep it that way.

Now that I've seen how crowded it got on the sidewalk down there - I'm so glad I decided to get into work a little early.
(The camera guy is across Pine St. from my building - the Capital Grille awnings are my building).
I would've cried trying to get through that crowd, then probably turned around and gone home. HAHA. So strong.

Wrong foot forward.

2011-11-17T09:30:00.000-05:00

Via Flickr (adorable at her age)

I wore my Tory Burch Revas yesterday for my commute.

I've never found them as AMAAAAZINGLY comfortable as people rave (not enough arch support for me) but yesterday I was surprised at how uncomfortable they were. They were fine for the morning commute. But the after-work commute back home was pretty uncomfortable. My feet felt pinched in all the wrong places.

Today, I wore them again. Realized I wore them on the wrong feet yesterday...

Now, I've gotta say, a shoe that you can wear on the wrong foot and merely feel mild discomfort and not get the obvious feeling that something is wrong is quiet impressive.

Or... I'm just dumb.

Lawyers exude professionalism.

2011-11-16T14:10:00.001-05:00

Source.

So, now that I've passed the bar exam, I need to go through the process of applying for admission to the state bar.

One of the requirements is getting two affidavits of good moral character. The Committee on Character and Fitness prefer these to be from lawyers in good standing who have known you for at least two years.

As you can see below, I've made a good choice in asking a super-professional lawyer friend.

2:04 PM W: hey

2:05 PM I got a question about your character and fitness application

4:08 PM me: hey

my gchat has been on and off all day today. just got your chat

4:11 PM W: dammit

dude, I had a pretty important question

4:12 PM me: what was it

4:13 PM W: DO YOU FIND TAYLOR LAUTNER ATTRACTIVE

me: omg EWWWW NOOOOOO

W: he looks like a caveman!

me: he's so creepy looking

4:14 PM http://www.twilightseries.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/taylor-lautner-looks-like-alpaca.jpg

W: hahahaha YESSSSS

okay

just for that

you get a character recommendation

How has no one bought me this?

2011-11-16T10:07:00.001-05:00

Source.

I (used to) say this ALL. THE. TIME.

Actually, I still say it - since I haven't technically been admitted yet.

How to love a child.

2011-11-16T09:30:00.001-05:00

(And in complete contrast to last night's post about a totally classy, family- and values-oriented college athletic coach...)

In light of the recent Penn State scandal surrounding Jerry Sandusky, I wanted to share some advice via a cute but (I believe) practical image I had saved. (There are definitely more "journalistic"perspectives out there but this is one from a point of view that I appreciate - a blog that loves sports - but doesn't protect its own).

Apparently, in an interview with Bob Costas, "Sandusky was trying hard to paint himself assomeone who “loves” young people, but “isn’t sexually attracted” to them whilesaying he didn’t realize showering with a ten-year-old was wrong." (Quoted from TAH)

For anyone else who's not sure how to "love children/young people,"

903.

2011-11-15T21:34:00.001-05:00

Source

It was a good (to me, an exciting and generally fun-to-watch) game and today Coach K won his 903rd game as a Division I basketball coach, passing Bob Knight for the most wins.

(SO WISH I WERE THERE!!! INSTEAD OF AT HOME WRITING A MEMO FOR WORK... pfft.)

Not that he needs to hear it from me, but, well done, Coach.

And always with class and grit.

"Coaches, we get very lucky when we're at good places."
~ on his decision to display the game ball at Duke's Hall of Fame.

And maybe this kid can help him reach 1000.

CNN with one of the first articles.
And ESPN saying he probably will get to 1000.

Spanx on Rue La La!!!

2011-11-15T14:54:00.001-05:00

I will perhaps have to devote a separate entry to this topic alone, but I LOVE SPANX. And I'm not what most would call a big girl.

I just believe that women need the proper underthings to look pretty in their outerthings.

It is for this same reason that I believe in women wearing hosiery and slips under their skirts and dresses.

Nonetheless, SPANX are being sold on Rue La La for the next 1 day and 20 hours. And although I could devote another whole post to flash sale sites, I do like to use them for tried and true staples. It's a good deal if you go by the rule of you would've bought it at full-price anyway.

So, go and get 'em!

(If you need an invite - click here!)

Random collateral benefit: they are SUPER-warm so sometimes I wear them just under sweaters and stuff in the winter as a thermal layer =)

Ridiculous.

2011-11-14T14:44:00.001-05:00

There are so many things in this world that I can't believe are real.

Hand of Glory: old European folklore about supposed powers of the severed hand of a thief (or other bad person)
Link 1
Wiki

Kin-ball: a Québécois game that is utter nonsense.
Wiki

Noodling: catching catfish with your bare hands
Wiki

Luxury.

2011-11-12T18:28:00.001-05:00

Page I tore out of The New Yorker as a goal and reminder.

I think luxury is relative. Walking out of the Boston MFA a few hours ago, a friend asked me how I felt about the day I'd just had. And I could only think of how LUCKY I am.

I'd spent the night with a good friend near Harvard. Had a lovely catchup brunch at IHOP with another friend. Then got to see the Degas exhibit that I'd been looking forward to since i'd read about it in The New Yorker a few weeks ago.

I feel so lucky. It's a luxury to travel and see friends and enjoy art. After reading (other) New Yorker articles about life under Qaddafi and girls who commit so-called "honor suicides" in the middle east caucasus region, I felt so lucky. To have had access to a world-class education. To be ALLOWED to have an education. To freely travel. To wear whatever clothes I want to. To be able to see whatever art without the filter of a government censor.

Some ppl might think I'm satisfied with too little. But I'm just grateful for the amazing situation I've been born into and the life I'm able to lead. It amazes me how being born a female in today's world can still mean a lifetime of second-class citizenship in some places.

And regardless of gender, there are still countries where something as taken for granted as travel or freedom of speech of artists is still elusive. And even in the US, there are ppl who don't have the financial means or freedom of physical movement and independence to travel as they'd like.

So on so many levels, I feel lucky to lead such a luxurious life. The luxury of travel. To luxury to see friends. The luxury to appreciate art.

Food on Friday 4: Strawberry Jam Thumbprint Sugar Cookies.

2011-11-11T09:30:00.000-05:00

I joined a book club in October/my friends and I decided to start a book club together. For the first meeting I sent out a request for snacks and one reader said "sugar cookies." I decided to try out a few recipes before the book club meeting.

Here's the first one I tried: Ok, true confession. I snapped at my sister earlier in the evening and then she went into her room and closed the door (we don't close doors in this house). So then I gave her an hour to cool down and texted her: "Are you painting your feelings? Wanna bake something?" So then we decided to make these Easy Sugar Cookies. And because I'm fancy (and also because we bought a gallon of strawberry jam from Costco) we decided to make Strawberry Jam Thumbprint Cookies!

Some ingredients.

The flour, baking soda, baking powder + butter and sugar mixture + egg and vanilla. It was a bit crumbly.

The Costco gallon of jam.

Made 2 tsp balls of dough. Then made a "thumbprint" with a 1/4 tsp measuring spoon.

BEFORE: Filled with a 1/4 tsp of strawberry jam. (Next time I will at least double the amount).

AFTER: They cooked super quickly - about 12ish minutes.

All pretty! I halved the recipe and made 32 cookies.

As of tonight (24 hours later), we have 12 left. We ate 20 cookies in just as many hours.

My mom today: "Don't make these cookies anymore. They're ruining my diet."

Terrorists. Ruin. Everything.

2011-11-09T10:51:00.001-05:00

Yet another way the terrorists and the events of 9/11 have made my life more difficult.

I have to send Employment Affidavits out to all of my previous law-related employers for them to fill out and return to me as part of my application to the NY Bar.

The mail in our office doesn't get picked up until 4pm and I wanted these to get processed and sent along their merry way as soon as possible.

So I used Google to find a mailbox nearby with an earlier pickup time.

The USPS website claimed there was only one mailbox within a mile's radius of where I am located with a 12pm (noon) pickup time.

I took my envelopes and walked down Broadway looking for this mailbox. Curiously there were NO mailboxes on ANY corner of ANY sidewalk.

I passed these cops a few times walking back and forth where the internet and my iPhone was telling me this mailbox should be. I was worried they would find my behavior suspicious (clutching several large brown envelopes, checking my phone, and walking up and down the same 100 ft of sidewalk clearly looking for something) so I walked over and asked them in my most "I'm-so-lost-Officer-with-a-capital-O-please-help-me" voice why there weren't any mailboxes on Broadway.

The one cop looked around and said, "Oh, I've never noticed that but they're probably worried about ... terrorists." He actually paused, looked around furtively, and whispered "terrorists" to me. He then went back to his normal voice and told me to use the dropboxes inside any of these office buildings.

So, I thanked him, promptly returned to my own building and dropped the envelopes in our dropbox here. Where they still won't get picked up until 4pm. And that is how the terrorists ruin everything. Blergh.

Hawaiian Surprises and a Silver Lining.

2011-11-09T09:56:00.001-05:00

Website.

New best part of my day.

Maybe it IS true what they say about every cloud having a silver lining. After my orthodontist appointment on Monday left me unable to bite or chew I was pretty miserable.

But hunger drove me to break one of my cardinal rules: Never eat food from a street cart.

One of the receptionists told me the smoothie cart behind our building was very good.

And now the Hawaiian Surprise (coconut, strawberry, banana, mango) is my new favorite part of my day.

And that breaks another one of my cardinal rules: Don't buy food during work hours (I always pack my breakfast and lunch and refuse to buy snacks from the vending machine).

You can't say "bomb" on a plane.

2011-11-08T11:22:00.001-05:00

Source.

Or in a building full of the Attorney General's state government employees.

I heard a few ppl rushing past my office just now followed by, "Grab your things! There's a bomb threat!"

I was going to ignore it until an official announcement was made (our building has great security) but then all the staff workers were rushing by in their coats with their bags.

So I peeked into the hallway and our Bureau Chief was out there - explaining that there's a bomb threat a block away between Liberty and Maiden Lane. And although we don't have an official building announcement yet they were advised to move anyone with Broadway-facing windows into the interior of the building.

I'm way in the back by Nassau so I'm in the "safe" zone. Now we're just waiting for more "official" news.

Also, my trip to the bank (front-facing on Broadway inside my building) is momentarily postponed. Oh, dear.

Other uses: Neosporin.

2011-11-07T11:21:00.001-05:00

Neosporin.

I've long had "sensitive earlobes."

What this really means is that I can't wear any earrings for very long. Or my ears get infected and itchy and painful.

I received a pair of earrings for my past birthday that I LURV but could usually only bear to wear them for half the day before my holes hurt so much I had to take them out. And then my ears would be infected for a few days so I wouldn't be able to wear any earrings at all.

So - I recently found a way to deal with this problem: Every morning before I put (any of my) earrings into my ears, I stick the post into a tube of Neosporin to help kill all the bacteria on them/in my holes/around my holes/that develop during the day and then put the Neosporin-covered post straight into my ear (don't wipe it off or anything).

I have a specific Neosporin that is only for earring lubrication so I don't worry about it infecting my cuts or whatever else I use Neosporin for. If you have just one Neosporin then I would suggest squeezing it out onto a cotton swab (aka Q-tip) first and then using the swab to put the goo on your earring posts.

I haven't tried it myself but I imagine that anti-bacterial hand gel might work in this capacity as well.

(P.S. I also put Neosporin on pimples that accidentally pop (too early) when I'm washing my face a little too hard or in the shower - it cuts the healing time down drastically and doesn't leave a huge angry red (or white) mark).

Delayed.

2011-11-07T08:10:00.001-05:00

Regular scheduled posting still delayed. Very busy weekend. But will have a useful tip later this morning.

Happy Monday!

Content.

2011-11-06T01:09:00.000-04:00

A good night spent with friends. Who all passed the bar. And I still get to sleep my usual 6 hours. Win!

Food on Friday 3: Lasagna

2011-11-04T09:30:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago, after my sister's crazy med school final (she's in a med school class even though she's just a master's student!) she was craving some lasagna. Now, we are sortof lasagna snobs and not any old lasagna was going to do. I told her to wait it out until we could get to a Maggiano's (OMG I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY PUT IN THERE BUT IT'S LIKE MY CRACK!!!). Well, that never happened so yesterday I decided I was just going to make my OWN lasagna using the recipe for the World's Best Lasagna.

And my tweaks:
Substitutions:
1 package (3/4 lb.) of Aidell's Chicken Sausage (instead of 1 lb. sweet Italian sausage)
1 lb. extra lean ground turkey (instead of 3/4 lb. lean ground beef)
1 whole diced onion (instead 1/2 cup minced onion)
3 minced cloves of garlic (instead of 2 crushed cloves)
1/2 tsp thyme + 1/2 tsp rosemary (instead of 1 tsp Italian seasoning: I just read the Italian seasoning "ingredients" list at the store and used what I had)
1 Tbs garlic salt (instead of regular salt)
1 1/2 tsp dried basil (instead of dried basil leaves)
1 lb mozzarella (instead of 3/4 lb.)
1 1/2 to 2 cups grated Parmesan (instead of 3/4 cup)
Used "Oven-ready" lasagna noodles and didn't have to even pre-soak them.

Additions/Deletions:
+ 1.5 pinches of nutmeg to the ricotta
- 1/2 tsp fennel seeds (I don't like how it tastes)
- 4 Tbs fresh parsley (don't like it either)
- no salt in the ricotta mixture

Suggestions for next time:
1. 1 Tbs sugar instead of 2 (I've also read that ground carrots work just as well to cut the tomato tartness)
2. Would use 1.5 or 2 lbs of mozzarella (I LOVE cheesy lasagna!!!)

The starting ingredients

In a Dutch oven, cook [chicken] sausage, ground [turkey], onion, and garlic over medium heat until well browned. [I slit the sausage skin lengthwise, peeled it off, and chopped up the sausage]

Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, and water. Season with sugar, basil, ~~fennel seeds, Italian seasoning~~, 1 tablespoon salt, pepper, ~~and 2 tablespoons parsley~~. [I used a hand blender to mix it all up and to break up the ground turkey and chicken sausage]

Simmer, covered, for about 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.

In a mixing bowl, combine ricotta cheese with egg, ~~remaining parsley~~, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
Oops - no pic: promise it was just a bowl of white ricotta cheese.

To assemble, spread 1 1/2 cups [I used 2 cups and it barely covered the bottom of a 10x14 inch pan] of meat sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Arrange 6 noodles lengthwise over meat sauce. Spread with one half of the ricotta cheese mixture.

[Added a layer of spinach!]

Top with a ~~third~~ [1/2] of mozzarella cheese slices.

Spoon 1 1/2 cups [used 2 cups again and still had 2-3 cups left over] meat sauce over mozzarella, and sprinkle with 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.

Repeat layers, and top with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.

After baking for 55 minutes! Lunch for 2 for a week for $30! (we cut it into 12 pieces and my sister are taking one for lunch each day =)

Official bar exam results.

2011-11-03T12:52:00.001-04:00

Available here. Click on the K to L panel and scroll down to me!!!

(Actually most of my close friends are on that page, 4 Kims and a Kwak!)

Also, some stats from this year's exam:

11,182 candidates sat for the 2-day exam.
69.2% of all candidates who sat the exam passed.
78.5% of all first-time takers passed.

Only 35.4% of all foreign-educated candidates passed.
My sympathies - English is a brutal language =(

Freak.

2011-11-03T12:36:00.000-04:00

Source.

Just got out of the elevator. I was in there with 3 adult men. I was heads and shoulders above all 3.

I felt awkward - like I was offending the other 3 men by being taller than them and should apologize...

Is there something wrong with me???

Am I a GINORMOUS freak?!?!

Or is there something going on with men, where it's like, somehow genetically beneficial for them to be smaller?

Passed the NY bar.

2011-11-02T10:16:00.001-04:00

Win!

Edited: Ha. Anonymous blogger FAIL.

I been Punk'd. And I'm so sad.

2011-11-01T19:25:00.001-04:00

Checked our PSEG account online. Got the message in the picture. Was SO SO SO excited. Tried all our lights and things. Nothing worked. Called the number. Automated lady said our power was restored. Told her "No it's not" and spoke to a real live person. Looked out at the street and no one else has power either. Lady on the phone is real nice but affirms what I already know and dread. No electricity restored yet. Website was a fluke. As a cruel twist the generator went out as I hung up with her. Waiting for my dad to come home with more gas for the generator. Le sigh.

christine.is.pink

Real Steel: Not really a movie review.

Dreams and ghosts.

The Social Network: A movie review!

Goodreads.com

Deathly fears.

Ghost "towns."

Pointless.

Please let them know what killed me.

Grammar fetish update.

If Sherlock Holmes were a bit racist.

Liam Neeson.

Is that really too much to ask?

Urges. I get them.

How I organize my emails.

Little victories. And making peace.

Talking clock!

Overheard in the Museum of the City of New York.

Talk the English good.

PSA: I don't want to get cancer!

Oh, the gym.

Not dressed.

Beautiful libraries.

SCIENCE! The world's youngest mother.

Sacrifices that are worth it.

I've been so lucky lately.

Back to work!

Holy smoking children, Batman!

Fetish? Proper grammar, please.

Wanna see this movie!

DIY Edible Gifts in Jars.

Under the weather.

Grinch-tastic nails.

Art, after all.

Organization Vacation: Laundry Room.

Do happy lawyers exist?

Organization Vacation!

Never again.

Things I appreciate (right now).

So, umm... experiments.

Apologies.

Innovation!

Useful Tuesday: Use a (hard) lunchbox.

Marketing that makes women feel insecure works.

The man who looked at things.

What is wrong with these men?

Posting problems.

How I Met Your Mother: Symphony of Illumination

Inspiration and Execution: A *casual* work look!

What does this say about me?

Inspiration and Execution: Sheer black blouse and Chanel-y jacket

Blaghhh!!!

Useful Tuesday: PR Pros Share Secrets on Getting to the Next Level

Inspiration and Execution: Club Monaco Layers

Swearing in ceremony outfit: NJ edition.

Food on Friday 8. Birthday Cake.

Inspiration and Execution: Twist-front top and suit.

December???

Pig of Happiness.

My weekends.

TGIF!!!

Food on Friday 7. Halloween Candy Corn Cookies!!

I like: Sarcastic Op-Eds.

Roommates.

Silver Fox.

Useful Tuesday! Save. US.

Real.

What to wear to a swearing-in ceremony?

Siblings (rivalry?). Aww.

Food on Friday 6. Buttermilk Pancakes.

Thanks.Giving.

An almost confession. And a real contest!

Read to your kid.

Let's eBates together!

Hi, I'm Mat.

Sunday nights vs. Monday mornings.

Food on Friday 5: Pasta Carbonara. (A Quest!).

Sshhh!!!

Belated realizations.

UGHHH.

Inspiration and Execution: A casual work look!