Oscar Party

Scandalous!

Dressed in their red carpet best, Celia, Sharn, Phoebe, Tania and I attended Laura's Academy Awards party in Inwood. There may not have actually been a red carpet, but there was a red door. Celia won the Oscar contest by guessing 14 of the winners from the 24 categories. Runners-up with 10 correct guesses were Phoebe and me. We all cheered when Diablo Cody won the award for Best Original Screenplay for Juno, and we laughed at how often they had to mention that she used to be a stripper/exotic dancer. We loved Tilda Swinton's acceptance speech for Best Supporting Actress, especially this part:

"George Clooney, you know, the seriousness and the dedication to your art, seeing you climb into that rubber bat suit from "Batman & Robin," the one with the nipples, every morning under your costume, on the set, off the set, hanging upside-down at lunch, you rock, man."

We hated her dress though.

"Marlon Brando was hot in his day!" - Roommate

Build-a-Bear & Valentine's Day

Bearnacle meets Argyle

Michael and I have built two build-a-bears for each other for past Valentine's days. The first time, we decided to make bears that represented ourselves to keep each other company. So, when my friend asked me what to get his girlfriend for this past Valentine's day, I suggested he do the same. He made this adorable puppy and dressed him in a preppy polo then named him Argyle- his favorite pattern to wear. The girlfriend loved him, and even made him his own facebook profile. Of course, I'm now facebook friends with a stuffed animal :-) She brought him to my place last week to watch Lost (one of his favorite shows), and he and Bearnacle (the second bear Michael made for me) had fun watching together.

Montauk's away

Every now and then a New Yorker needs to get out of the city.

Inspired by Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, we wanted to see Montauk in the winter. With so many people from the west coast in the group, we hardly believed it could snow at the beach. It does though!

Dustin, Celia, Laura, Sharn, Tania (aka Roommate), and I met at Penn Station and caught the 11:47am train to Montauk, where we arrived near 3pm.

Not knowing what to expect when we got there, we disembarked to a desolate location. Snow covered the ground and one paved street stretched out before them. A restaurant that was sure to be bustling when serving the spring and summer tourists stood quiet and lonely at the edge of the train station. Fortunately, they were not closed for the winter and pointed the direction to town- a short 30min. walk along the sidewalk-less road. "Town" was a gazebo centered square with closed restaurants and gift shops surrounding it. Hotels were boarded up on either side of the walk to the beach, reinforcing the idea that we were the only tourists crazy enough to visit this beach town in mid-February. It was everything we hoped for when we saw snow mixed with sand and heard the glorious sound of waves crashing on the shore.

Most of us dared to walk close enough to touch the foamy receding waves, but Sharn in her rubber boots ventured further out. The sea, unhappy with her boldness, attacked. A sudden wave, larger than the others, swept over her boots and soaked her pants and socks.


A trip to the local drugstore, where she bought new socks to keep her feet dry and warm, meant our adventure could continue. We wanted to see the lighthouse, so we called a taxi because it was too far to walk. Montauk's lighthouse is the first one built in New York, and it was commissioned by President George Washington.
As the day darkened and our stomachs growled, we called the taxi to come back and pick us up. While we waited we played on the playground.

The cabbie recommended a place called the Shagwong for dinner, so we took his advice. They offered an early bird special with soup or salad, entree, dessert, and coffee or tea. We all went for it. The seafood was delicious and in large portions. We walked back to the train station feeling full and satisfied and headed home- a day well spent.

Essentials for Every Woman

According to Stacy & Clinton (from What Not to Wear), every woman's wardrobe should include the following. My wardrobe needs some work, but without the $5000 you get on the show, it will take a while for me to build it up.

Essentials for Every Woman

- a black pantsuit
- a softer neutral suit with pants or skirt (gray, brown, khaki, or navy)
- 3 pairs of neutral trousers
- 3 winter-weight skirts (1 should be a tweed)
- 3 summer-weight skirts (1 should be a tweed)
- 3 cotton button-front shirts
- 3 blouses
- 2 sparkly tops
- leather jacket
- denim jacket
- trench coat
- 3 pairs of jeans (all hemmed to different lengths, for flats, heels, and sandals)
- black dress
- solid-color dress
- print or embellished dress
- 6 sweaters (3 neutral, 3 color, and vary necklines- crew, V-neck, and cardigan)
- 3 blazers (1 summer weight, 1 three-season weight, 1 winter weight)
- ¾ length wool coat
- watch with 2 bands (leather and link)
- black bag
- brown bag
- color or print bag
- black heels
- brown heels
- color or print or embellished heels
- black boots
- brown boots
- black flats

My New Glasses

Option A

Option B

Option C

TAG (Thanks to Berrylicious)

TAG Rules:

The rules of the game are posted at the beginning. Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 4 people, and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged, and asking them to read your blog.

1. 10 years ago I was........
17 years old, a junior in high school, dating my second boyfriend whom I dated until freshman year of college, working at Kumon math & reading center where I tutored kids in math, playing volleyball on weekends with my high school crew, going to parties, taking AP classes, working on the yearbook, applying to be editor for senior year, driving my sweet Toyota Celica convertible, living at our awesome two story house w/ pool in north Scottsdale, probably starting to think about college and the future... it was so long ago

2. 5 things on my "to do" list today

-write my digital media paper, which I successfully put off all weekend and is due tomorrow night.

-meet some friends at Alice's Tea Cup to celebrate a birthday and go shopping

-run 2 miles (which I will probably put off until tomorrow)

-take a shower

-that takes up most of the rest of the day. I had "go to the eye doctor" on my to do list today, but I already tried to do that (see earlier post)

3. Things I would do if I became a billionaire

- tithe
- give lots away to charity, probably things like Food for the Hungry and World Vision
- pay off school loans and next year of grad school
- buy a cool apartment in Manhattan, probably in West Village
- pay off my parents' debts and for the rest of my brother's college
- invest
- save
- pay for my wedding
- travel the world
- buy a house in the country and fill it with dogs and kids and horses (in the stables, of course)
- buy a new car for me and one for Michael
- do I have any left now? Keep giving, investing and saving for the future

4. 3 of my bad habits

- multi-tasking while on the phone instead of really listening. Sorry!

- starting to say something and then not going anywhere with it

- answering for other people who are right there

5. 5 places I've lived

- Brooklyn, NY (1 apt., 1 dorm room)

- Tempe, AZ (3 dorm rooms, 1 apt., 2 houses)

- Phoenix, AZ (1 apt.)
- Scottsdale, AZ (3 houses)
- Mesa, AZ (1 condo)

6. 5 jobs I've had

- intern at Random House
- high school English teacher & yearbook adviser
- program manager for KidZone (before/after school program)
- waitress at Johnny Rockets & my dad's restaurant (where I also was a hostess)
- GAP sales associate
- I also worked at an ice cream shop in Newport Beach, CA, in a smoothie shop as my first job, at a dry cleaners, for the 2000 Census, as a tutor, and as a home school teacher

7. Things most people don't know about me....
I'm very self-conscious about how I look. I always feel like I need to lose ten pounds and dress more fashionably. I hate my feet and my moles & freckles. I really like rap and hip-hop music. My absolute dream is to get married, have kids, raise them well, volunteer and be involved in a home church. I wish I didn't have to work, and I don't feel passionate about any career path. I sometimes doubt the truth of the entire Bible and the history of the world and religion, but I couldn't imagine life without faith in God and Jesus because I do really believe in their existence. I'm actually a snob and judgmental, but I try really hard not to be because I also really like people, and I'm desperate to have them like me. I wish I could dance really well- ballet, ballroom, latin and hip-hop. I wish I could sing really well too. I want to be vegetarian again, but I don't think I really will. I think that is a much revelation into myself that I want to provide now.

I tag Krista, Joa, Austin & Mrs. T!!! I have to tag them through MySpace blogs b/c I don't know anyone else with normal blogs.

Just one of those days

I set my alarm to make sure I woke up in time for my eye appointment today. I planned to leave at 10:30 to get there a little before 11. The appointment wasn't until 11:15, but they asked me to come early to fill out papers. I ended up leaving a little after 10:30 and went to my usual subway station.

As I walked onto the uptown 4 platform, I thought I should take the R train instead because it would take me right to the health center without transferring. I headed through the maze of underground tunnels to get to the R platform where I found a service sign notifying me that the R would not be stopping there today. Arg! I had to walk all the way back to the 4 and wait for the next train.

I still shouldn't be late, I thought to myself because I could transfer to the 6 and get off at Astor, just a few blocks from the health center. But, today was just not my day for the subway because I missed my stop to transfer- a first time for me. My book (The other Boleyn girl) must have been too engaging. I got off at 14th St. and had to walk six blocks down and one over to get to the health center.

I made it just about 11:15, and I started digging through my bag to find my wallet and student ID to show the guard. I must have looked flummoxed because he said, "It's okay. Take your time." After emptying everything out my bag, I found that I had not brought my wallet with me. "I don't have it," I told the guard.
"Where are you going?" he asked me.
"I have an appointment in optometry."
"The health center's closed today for the holiday," he informed me as I stood there looking confused.
"What day is it?" I asked.
"President's Day."
Okay, I actually knew it was President's Day, thank you very much. I was looking for the date here.
"It's the 18th isn't? My appointment is tomorrow," I said as the realization came to me. I told the guard I hoped he had a great day and I would see him tomorrow. I left feeling foolish and defeated. I do know I'll leave earlier tomorrow, I'll check the subway ahead of time for service changes, and I'm glad I wasn't late today. In fact, I was 23hrs. and 45min. early.

I'm so excited!!!

If you can believe it, my boyfriend has never seen an episode of Saved by the Bell, so when I first referenced this scene to him, he didn't know what I was talking about. It was so strange to me because everyone I know in my generation knows about this scene. Now he can see it for himself. Here you go, Michael!

in a New York minute

As I sat on the 4 train heading to class, I was grateful to get a seat and smiled at the woman sitting next to me. Apparently New Yorkers never do this- smile. The woman said to me, "You look happy. Why are you so happy?" I replied that it was just a good day.
"Are you going to vote?" she asked next.
"Yup," I replied as I attempted for the second time to put my earphones in and tune out the world. (Something most New Yorkers do).
"Who are you voting for, if you don't mind my asking?" she continued.
"Oh, well I'm waiting for the general election, so I'm not sure yet." And then I think, she is probably about to lecture me on how important it is to vote in the primaries, so I go on. "I recently moved from Arizona, and I didn't get an absentee ballot in time."
Suddenly, her world falls into place.

"You didn't seem like you were from New York. You're still too nice," she said. "So, what brings you to New York?"
I finally gave up on the earphones, turned off the iPod, and replied, "Grad school. I'm going to NYU."
"What's your major?"
"Publishing."
"REALLY?! Do you ever look at query letters?" ?" By this, she means letters sent to agents and/or publishers to ask them to consider an author's work.
"Yes, sometimes," I replied.
"Great! Would you mind taking a look at something?" Here is where I made the mistake of saying okay.

After I read her letter and gave her some feedback, she pulled out her manuscript for me to read as well. Fortunately, it was for a children's book, so it wasn't very long. After reading that as well, she asked me how I would rate it.
"Would you say it's fair, good, very good, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, A, B, C?" I couldn't believe this woman, but I didn't want to crush her. Even though it wasn't that good, she was right- I'm too nice.

"I guess I'd give it a B or a 7. It's pretty good," I told her. The story wasn't that bad. I told her I thought that with a good editor, maybe something could happen. I also told her that I don't know much about publishing children's literature. I felt so awkward, and I couldn't wait for my stop. Of course, when we got to 42nd St., she got up. Great! We had the same stop. As we got off the train she thanked me profusely and said how crazy it was that I happened to sit next to her and what can happen in New York and how nice I was to look over her story. I tried to say, "You're welcome," and escape, but she continued to thank me as I walked up the stairs. Finally I escaped as the crowds separated us.

I still don't know if I should have been more honest with her. She's just a stranger, and I didn't want to crush her dream. I think I will be more careful about announcing that I'm in publishing to future strangers on the subway.