2009: What a year it's been!

As you know, 2009 hasn't exactly been the best year of my life, but I'm so happy that I decided to document everything here on this blog to share with all of you! One day, soon I hope, I'll be able to look back at this time in my life as a minor hiccup on my journey to success and riches. 

I'm going to take this opportunity to look back at my favorite posts from the last five months. (Has it been that long already?!)

1. I was used and abused as a laundry bitch.

2. I had a very public orgasm experience over FREE soup.

3. My alter ego—What up, gangsterrr!?

4. I got TMI raunchy-style for the first time here. 

5. NYC douchebag hatin' was goin' on here. 

6. I got waaaay too competitive in yoga class.

7. I remembered the greatest, coolest, kindest, most badass man that has ever lived here. Miss you, Dad!!!

8. My love letter to Samantha Ronson. XOXO

9. Pop-Tarts!!!

10. Celebrity Flashback! Channing, Nick, Romeo—call me ;)

11. I introduced you to the Bean Bitch. 'Nuff said.

12. I blamed NYC for my fat ass here. 

13. My Glamour photo shoot: Walk of Shame!

14. I admitted it, I'm no smarty pants.

15. NYC party snobs. The usual suspects: Headache Girl, Miss Moody, Miz Fab.

Aww, fun times! Well I hope everyone has a safe and FUN New Year's Eve! You better believe I'll be posting Photo Shoot Friday tomorrow, so check back in!

Tell me: What was 2009 like for you?

Sexy Can I?

I must admit, I do like that Ray J song. A guy started singing it the other day when Liza and I walked past. I don't know what it is about my shiny black American Apparel leggings, but every time I wear them, a dude tries to holla at me. Anyway, check out my long-awaited, highly anticipated new camera!!!

It's a Sony DSC-WX1/B Cyber-Shot. Isn't it purty? (The face I'm making in this pic—um, not so purty). My boyfriend did an excellent job of picking it out; it has a ton of cool features. My favorite is that it can snap ten pictures at once so you can choose which one you like best. That will come in handy when I have celeb sightings because they always walk by so quickly, it's hard to get a good shot! 

I can already tell I'm gonna have a lot of fun with this camera, and I'm so happy you guys don't have to look at blurry pics any longer! Hooray!

What's your color of the moment?

The other week my friend Lindsay told me that lately she's been obsessed with anything gray. My response was, "Really?" But recently I've noticed that I've hopped on the gray bandwagon without even realizing it! I've been rocking OPI's Suzi Skis in the Pyrenees (gotta love those names!) on my tootsies for a month, and when I was home, everything I wore was either gray, black or beige. Well, it turns out I've kept the trend going! Last night I met my boyfriend and cousin, Chris, out for drinks and this is what I wore.

Gray scarf, check. Gray sweater, check. Geeze, I look like a lump of charcoal! I'm feeling quite bloated and just all-around icky from overindulging during the holidays, so I was hesitant to put this picture up, but a few of you said you'd like to see more of ME on the blog, so here I am! My jeans are definitely feeling snug, and it is just not cool, man. I'm going to wear leggings, gray leggings perhaps, until I get back to my normal self. And no one can stop me because I don't have a job! Haha

I love this gray ToyWatch my bf got me last year for my birthday. The battery is dead, but that didn't stop me from wearing it! Ohh and can we just talk about how crisp and clear my pics are today?! I'm posting deets on my snazzy new camera later. I love it!

So tell me: What's your color of the moment? What do you think about my head-to-toe (literally) gray look? Should I add more color?

Reality Bites

No, this post isn't going to be about one of my all-time favorite '90s movies. (Which I might add, I was terribly disappointed that not one person knew the answer to my movie trivia quiz when I quoted Ethan Hawke from Reality Bites on my FnF Facebook page. Really, guys?) Let the bitchfest begin. 

Ethan Hawke is a foxxx though, isn't he? Sigh. An.y.way. I woke up this morning at 7:30 with a long to-do list to tackle. Want to know how many things I have crossed off that list? Zero. Zilch. Nada. Some of things are as simple as making a phone call, and for whatever reason I just cannot bring myself to do anything. I've watched the Today Show, a bad soap opera, two King of Queens episodes, and now I've got Everybody Loves Raymond reruns on the tube. Oh, and I believe Dr. Phil is on in a few minutes! Needless to say, I feel pathetic and depressed. Peter Boyle isn't even making me laugh right now, if that gives you an idea of how low I am feeling. 

I'm sure most of you are hard at work or off enjoying a fabulous, well-deserved holiday vacation. My boyfriend mentioned possibly taking a trip for New Year's, and I don't even feel up to it. I don't feel worthy of being whisked away anywhere. 

Geeze, I don't know what happened to me. I was feeling quite optimistic after writing this post about my future dream jobs last week. Anyone else feeling a bit down now that the holidays are over? Bah Humbug! Don't worry though, I'll pull myself out of it one way or another. The old Ellen WILL resurface again soon!

Giveaway deadline extended!!!

Hey guys! I've decided to extend the Thayer dress giveaway deadline to Tuesday, January 5. I've loved reading all the comments so far, and I want to give everyone a chance enter. I realize this is a busy time for lots of you and I don't want anyone to miss out! Good luck ;)

xoxo

E

Business cards for a biz-nas woman

Mornin' friends! How's everyone feeling today? On a scale of one to 10, I'd say I'm about a 5.5. I don't know why, but every time I come back to NYC after being gone for a while, I always feel a little blue. It might take me a few days or so to get back to my normal self and get on a more regular posting schedule, so please bear with me. 

Yesterday I received something in the mail that made me almost as excited as paychecks—my new, snazzy business cards! I ordered them online from Vista Print—they were only $25 for 250 cards, and the quality is really nice. They are white and purple with an FnF logo, of course. I wish I could show them to you, but I don't think sharing my personal information on the Internet would be the smartest idea.

I know that anyone can make their own business cards, and that they don't officially make me a business woman (if only it were that easy!), but it's still a nice feeling to have something shiny and pretty with my name on it. It will also be incredibly beneficial to have these on hand when I'm out and about networking—there have been too many times since I lost my job that someone has asked me for a card and I wasn't prepared! 

What about you: Do you have a business card? Does it make you feel a teensy bit special? 

Do I look fat in these jeans?

Every time I go home, I find myself secretly hoping my mom will tell me that I've lost weight, even when I um, haven't. She's always made me feel beautiful, but actually hearing the words, "Wow, you've really slimmed down!" gives me satisfaction and a feeling of approval that I think children are always seeking from their parents. 

Well, it was day three at home and while my mom complimented me on my outfits and told me how pretty I looked, I still hadn't heard the magic words. So what did I do? I asked her if she thought I had lost weight since the last time we had seen each other. Big mistake. Huge. (Can you hear Julia Roberts saying this in Pretty Woman?) Her initial response was, "You look great!" But then I pushed her for her honest opinion (again, mistake), and she said, "Well, you're not at your slimmest. Your face looks a little fuller, but everything else looks great!" Translation: You have a fat face. Sweet. (Juuust kidding, Mom!)

I got upset, but I knew how unfair it was for me to ask my mom that question. And at least she told me the truth. Lord, Jessica Simpson could have benefited from someone being honest with her when she wore this horribly unflattering outfit at a concert in Florida about a year ago. Yiiikes. If anything, this was a good wake up call for me—I need to get my ass in gear, man! I'm not going to wait until the New Year to get back on a healthy track—it starts now. 

Have you ever asked someone if it looked like you had lost or gained weight? What happened?

Do you believe in magic?

I didn't, until my ol' pal Skooly showed me a couple sweet "magic" tricks over the holiday break. Exhibit A:

He somehow managed to securely wedge this beer bottle in a corner—I tried it and failed miserably. Ok, ok, not quite impressed yet? Check this out:

Do you see the concentration on Skooly's face? This is no joke—I was amazed with his skillz. There is no way in hell I'd ever be able to pull that dollar bill from under those quarters without them flying everywhere. I don't have the patience. Why do I have the feeling he's practiced this trick a time or two before though? 

So this will be the last time I apologize for blurry or dark pictures and videos—I got a new camera for Christmas! Finally! It's pretty high-tech and I'm a bit intimidated to use it, but since I'll wake up tomorrow morning without a j-o-b, I'll have plenty of time to figure it out ;)

Alright, well I'm at the Cincinnati airport getting ready to board my plane. I can slowly feel my anxiety increase as I anticipate everything the new year will (or won't) bring. I'm still hopeful though—at least I have the support of all of you! 

What do you guys think of Skooly's magic tricks? Do you know any?

Dating advice from my 83 year-old aunt

Here I am with my great aunt Frances—the cutest lil' Greek lady you've ever seen. Below she shares some advice for single women on how to meet a man—ladies, you listenin'?

"Be friendly, but not too friendly...no favors!" Haha. What do you think of Aunt Frances's video? Has anyone ever met a guy at church?

Photo Shoot Friday: Vintage Collis triplets Christmas card photos—Can you handle the cuteness?!?!

Merry Christmas everyone! I'm posting PSF before I go downstairs and open presents and eat doughnuts. Gone are the days that I scurry out of bed at 6am to see what Santa brought me! I hope you like these old school Christmas card pics my mom dug up for me—they're pretty darn cute if I do say so myself. It's easy to tell who I am—I'm the plump triplet with an intense unibrow situation going on. 

This is one of the rare times that our whole family posed for a Christmas card picture. My little hair wave in the front is pretty sweet, right?

Denim on denim is in style these days, but back then we had no idea how to put it together—hideous. I'm really not sure why my mom put us in these outfits or how on earth we agreed to wear them!

Foster's facial expression is so cute in this pic—that lil' rascal! 

Here I am opening a present with Foster. I wanted his acceptance so much when I was younger—I probably would have given him all my Christmas presents if he had asked! 

Ok so I don't think this was a Christmas card picture, but it was just too cute not to post. Look, I'm waving hello!

I hope everyone has had a great holiday so far! Which picture here was your favorite? I love the one on the white couch by the tree. Did anyone else have to take Christmas card pictures when they were little?

Holiday Giveaway: Win a Thayer dress!!!

Hey guys! Who's pumped about Christmas Eve?! In the spirit of the holidays, I thought I'd give you a gift (well, just one of you). My friend Marsha is the designer of the amazing line, Thayer, and she is donating this super-cute dress to one FnF reader.

Pair it with a blazer and tights and you've got the perfect party outfit. Ok, so here are the contest rules. Yes, rules. To enter tell me:

1. What your favorite FnF post has been thus far and WHY

2. One thing you'd like to see more of on the blog 0r any general constructive criticism you have

3. Your dress size S-XL

The deadline is Monday night at 10pm, and I'll announce the winner Tuesday morning. I can't wait to hear what you have to say!!!

What's your favorite holiday movie?

I know I can be cliche at times, but no, my favorite holiday movie is not A Christmas Story. I watched this movie every year as a kid around Christmastime, but it always freaked me out. The bully with the yellow eyes scared the shit out of me, and I hated the part when Ralphie gets in trouble for saying "fuuuudge." (I have no idea why?) And that hideous lamp the dad buys—ick. I had the same feeling about the TV show Fraggle Rock—I always wanted to watch it, even though I knew it would leave me with an eerie feeling when it was over. Is anyone with me on this one? Somehow, I have the feeling the answer is no.

My absolute favorite holiday movie of all time is The Ref with Dennis Leary, Kevin Spacey and Judy Davis. The wit and dry humor is awesome. You know those kind of movies where someone can do something as simple as make a facial expression or say "fuck" a certain way that makes you LOL? That's totally this movie—the comedic timing is genius.

There really are too many hilarious quotes in the movie to pick a favorite, but I love the part when Kevin Spacey says: "You think my life turned out the way I wanted because I live in this house? You think every morning I wake up, look in the mirror and say, 'Gee I'm glad I'm me and not some 19 year-old billionaire rockstar with the body of an athlete and a 24-hour erection!' No, I don't! So just excuse the shit out of me!" Another favorite line is when Christine Baranski says, "Slipper socks...medium." Don't know what I'm talking about? Rent the movie—stat!


So tell me: What's your favorite holiday movie?

Wheeler's—where everybody knows your name

This morning I went to one of my dad's favorite hangout spots, Wheeler's. It's a pharmacy that has an old school diner in the back—it's the best. I went there often as a kid to load up on candy, buy NKOTB trading cards or get a burger and a chocolate shake with my dad. So I went there this morning for breakfast by myself (Liza was still sleeping, naturally) just to feel close to my dad, and to take a moment to remember him.

It doesn't look like much (partly because it was gloomy out and the camera fairy has not paid me a visit yet!), but the memories I have there are priceless. It's places like Wheeler's that make me feel happy that I grew up in a small city. Everybody really does know your name, and the charm is unlike anything else you can experience most places—especially New York.

My mom gave me instructions on where to sit—apparently it matters depending on the kind of dining experience you want. She said that the guys to the left are the "sharp shooters" who are always cracking jokes and talking about UK basketball (2,000 wins Woo Hoo!). Where did Dad sit? I asked. To the right, where it is quieter, she said. So that's where I sat. I still got an earful though. They talked about Christmas plans and grandchildren, but mostly basketball. And I overheard one of them say, "Hey Harvey, come sit next to me so I don't have to look atcha!" God, I love old men.

I ordered the stack of three large pancakes and ate them with zero guilt. They could totally rival the pancakes at even the fanciest brunch places in New York—I couldn't believe how light and fluffy they were! I'm sure the mix is nothing special, but there must be something the waitresses do to make them that way. Most of the waitresses have been working there since before I got a training bra, so I doubt they'll share any secrets with me. Another amazing thing is that they cook the food themselves and serve it! And, it's insanely fast.

I've always thought this sign was so cute: "Smile and have friends, frown and have wrinkles." And look at that milkshake machine—that is some old school shit right therrre.


Does anyone else have a favorite hangout spot at home? What makes it special?

Help! An FnF reader needs dating advice. What's the best way to tell a guy you're not interested?

Ok, so I don't know if my friend Ashley actually reads my blog, haha, but when she told me about her dating dilemma, I just had to post it. So many girls have this problem—how do you let a guy know you're not interested? One time a guy called me every day for a week and I never once picked up or returned his call, and he finally got the hint. I don't suggest doing that though—it was a very awkward and painful to witness his desperation increase as the days went on. (I mean, not that I could blame him). Anyway,  here's her story...

I geared up for my first Halloween in New York and put on my H1N1 costume and headed to a party with some of my new friends. After an hour or so of an open bar (social lubrication was really needed!), I started chatting with a guy who, after another several hours or so of said open bar, I kissed. Since he was a pretty good kisser and wasn’t an embarrassing dancer, I gave him my number at the end of the night. He said he would call soon and we said goodnight. 

After a short phone call a week or so later and some casual texting, we agreed to meet at a bar in Brooklyn. Anyone ever been on a date where you knew right away that you weren’t interested? Well, welcome to that date. The obvious topics of conversation had been covered on Halloween and now, we were stuck. Every new topic I tried to bring up had a four-minute lifeline and I had no way out. After a slow hour and a half at bar number one we voted for a change of venue. Still no luck AND he seemed to be having a great time! How does that happen?

It gets worse. After finishing my beer (and calling my friends and roommates from the bathroom), I told him I was ready to go home, and he INSISTED on taking me back on the subway. After telling him it was fine and I didn’t need him to take me home (re: three beers over two and a half painful hours) I found myself on the subway with him. After another painful 30 minutes at my place he wouldn’t leave, so I got up and opened my door and asked if I could call him a cab. He hugged me, kissed my cheek, promised to call soon and thanked me for a great (really, great?) night. 

It is now December 22 and I have yet to go on another date with my Halloween kiss. Our only face-to-face contact since then has been a very, very awkward run-in in SoHo where he hugged me twice and asked me out twice in FIVE minutes.  Yet somehow I am STILL getting texts, facebook chats and messages from this dude. He asks about my weekends, work and how Thanksgiving in St. Louis went. He keeps asking me out (I either don’t respond or make up excuses) and telling me how pretty I am. This guy is even ruining compliments for me now! But somehow, he still can’t get the hint!

So, faithful followers of Ellen, any advice or help? Maybe I should just send him to this blog...

Sounds like the dude just doesn't want to accept that it was over before it even began. When a guy is this persistent, it automatically makes me think he's not getting any. Maybe he hasn't been to second base in a while—or ever—and was hoping Ashley would be that special girl. Girls and guys, what advice do you have for Ashley? Have you ever had a hard time telling a guy you just weren't interested?

I had a Good Will Hunting style therapy sesh today. It was awesome.

Sorry for the late post today, friends, I've been busy exercising, Christmas shopping and talking about my feelings. That's right, I went to a psychologist today for the second time in my life. I really don't want to get into all the details because I do need to keep some of my personal life personal, but it turned out to be a good experience despite my initial hesitation. I've been having a lot of anxiety lately about various things, and I just needed to talk to someone to help me deal with those feelings as they arise. 

Ok, so the session wasn't quite on the Good Will Hunting level, but it was pretty darn good. The psychologist was a cool, normal woman with plenty of insight and helpful advice. She did quite a bit of talking, which I liked—unlike the therapist Betty goes to on Mad Men. The most he ever says is "Mmm hmm," which drives me nuts. I even got out a good cry, which apparently I really needed. 

This experience was much better than the time I went to see a sports psychologist when I was 16. I hit a major plateau with swimming, and for some reason my parents and coach thought it would be a good idea for me to talk to someone about it. The man was terrible. I'd talk and talk for what felt like forever and then he'd say, "Tell me more about that" or "Why is that?" Dude, if I freakin' knew WHY I wouldn't be here! Anyway, that wasn't so fun, but I'm glad I gave therapy another go—it's very healthy I think. 

 

There's really no reason for posting this picture other than to mention that Good Will Hunting first ignited my serious, lifelong crush on Matt Damon and Casey Affleck. Gotta love those Boston boyz. 

What about you: Have you ever been to a psychologist of any kind? Did it help? Who else loves Good Will Hunting?!

Airport Style: Take 2

Liza and I flew out of the Newark airport this afternoon, and now we are finally settled at home in Kentucky eating turkey sandwiches and watching a French movie called Tell No One (no reviews yet—just started it). Isn't it funny how something as simple as a turkey sandwich can taste so much better when your mom makes it for you? I guess it's the extra TLC she puts in it.

No offense to any of my Jersey peeps out there (I got nuthin' but love for ya!), but I did witness quite a few fashion eyesores at the airport: Track suits, looong French manicured nails, an abundance of hooded sweatshirts and baggy sweatpant outfits, sweater turtlenecks and fake Louis Vuitton purses—lots of them. (Which, aren't so bad, but I saw a few that had the cherry print on them, and I just can't get down with that. Anyone know what I'm talking about?) 

Ok, so I'm not saying that I made any groundbreaking fashion statements with my usual leggings/boots/T-shirt combo, but LOOK at the jacket I'm wearing. It's by PH8, Bebe's new luxury lifestyle line (without the luxury price tag) that I told you about in this post. Liza got it as a gift and was nice enough to let me borrow it. I just love it—I'm always a fan of anything slouchy with a cool collar. Bebe is really stepping up their game—the Kardashian girls are designing their own line for the brand, and recently Katy Perry has been seen all over town in her favorite PH8 leggings. I think it's time you guys hopped on the bandwagon, too! 

It's a beautiful thing when fashion meets function—I'm going to try harder from now on to look more pulled together during the day while I work from home. I may be wrong, but I think it will help me to stay productive and positive.

Anyway, what are the funniest/tackiest/most fashionable styles you've seen at the airport recently? And what do you think about PH8? Are you into cute, comfy clothes like I am?

What are your plans this holiday season?

Hey all! I'm getting ready to head to the airport to go home to Lexington, KY. I'll be there for almost a week, and I absolutely can't wait for a little R&R and quality time with my family and friends. It will be just what I need before I head back to NYC and face the reality of my current jobless situation. Ahh, I'm going to see if I can go at least a few days without worrying about it! 

Anyway, one of the things I like best about going back to the 'burbs is that it's the total opposite of the big bad city. There are trees everywhere, I can drive, people smile and wave when you pass them on the sidewalk, and I get to go to the mall—something I do just about once a year, only when I am home. It's nice to have a dose of normalcy every now and then. 

Another thing I love about going home during the holidays is seeing all the Christmas lights. Tacky or not, it's fun, and it totally helps put me in the holiday spirit! I'll try to snap some pics for ya and post them up later.

What's your favorite thing about this time of year? Do you have any plans? I wish every safe travels and a very happy holiday season! I'll be posting daily while I'm home, so be sure to check back!

R.I.P. Brittany Murphy

By now I'm sure that everyone knows that Brittany Murphy passed away yesterday morning. I found out via text message on the bus heading back from D.C. to New York. It's really sad—she's only a few years older than I am. I've heard her cardiac arrest was due to "natural causes," but I do find it hard to believe that would happen naturally to a 32 year-old. I suppose we'll find out for sure in the coming days. Regardless, she was an amazing actress, so let's take a minute to remember her here.

Who could forget her breakout role in Clueless? One of my favorite lines she said in the movie was when Cher (Alicia Silverstone) made her do a Buns of Steel workout video: "Cher, I don't want to do this anymore. And my buns, they don't feel nuthin' like steel." Amen, sister!

I haven't seen Girl, Interrupted in years, but it was such an awesome movie—very dark though. 

From what I remember, Brittany's character commits suicide. Does anyone else remember anything about her character in this movie? I need to watch it again!

Brittany switched things up in the romantic comedy, Just Married, with Ashton Kutcher. I had a big time Ashton Kutcher phase—I remember being so jealous of her when this movie came out. They had great chemistry, and I believe dated for a while after the movie came out. Ashton wrote this yesterday on Twitter: "2day the world lost a little piece of sunshine. My deepest condolences go out to Brittany's family, her husband, and her amazing mother Sharon. See you on the other side, kid." 

In Uptown Girls, Brittany plays a nanny to Dakota Fanning. I can totally relate to this movie right now! 

I recently saw Little Black Book on TV—I had forgotten how much I like this movie. In this scene, Brittany goes to the doctor (not knowing she's a gynecologist) to do a little investigative research on her boyfriend's ex. 

You all know from this post that I had a mild obsession with Eminem, so you can only imagine how envious I was that Brittany played his girlfriend in 8 Mile. Who remembers their sex scene together? Umm yeah, pretty intense. Brittany had made a statement that this was the movie that made her well-known, but I think everyone knew who she was long before that.

Does anyone have anything they want to share about Brittany Murphy? What was your favorite movie she was in?

My new favorite drinking game

Most people were snowed in and couldn't make it to the holiday party last night, but the intimate gathering allowed us to do something we otherwise might not have been able to. We watched The Hangover, again, and made it into a drinking game. The rules were pretty simple: Drink every time your favorite character makes you LOL. My character was Alan, so needless to say I got pretty tipsy.  

I love this part when Phil (Bradley Cooper) gives Alan shit about his man purse, to which Alan responds, "It's a satchel...Indiana Jones has one." Typically I wouldn't be in favor of the man purse, but Alan is such a badass, he can pull off pretty much anything. 

Stu is pretty damn funny, too. I love how he convinced his bitch of a girlfriend, Melissa, that they were going to a wine tasting in California instead of Vegas. Riiight. One of my favorite Stu moments was at the end when he totally told her off. He was really smart about the way he did it, too. Instead of calling her a psycho-bitch, he said, "You're such a bad person...all the way through to your core." That totally shut her up. I mean, what can you say back to that? I think everyone should try this approach. It's easy to call someone an asshole or bitch, but if you really want to get to someone, call out their insecurities or issues—that's why they're acting like an asshole in the first place anyway. People aren't just born jerks—there's always a reason behind it. 

Stu pulling out his own tooth to prove what a good dentist he is was definitely another LOL moment. God, I love this movie.

What's your favorite drinking game these days? Do you ever drink while watching movies? If you want to get really wasted, watch My Cousin Vinny and drink every time someone has the f-word. Trust me, it will work like a charm.

Snow Day!

Hello from D.C.! I woke up this morning—without a hangover thank God—and saw this out the window. Needless to say we will be snowed in all day and night—we're supposed to have 20 inches by tonight! I love snow days because it's the only time you can be 100 percent guilt-free about lounging on the couch all day long. We had waffles for breakfast this morning, and then watched The Hangover (love that movie!), and now we are watching Julie & Julia before football and basketball games invade the television. I'm in heaven. 

I don't know if anyone will make it over for Becca's holiday party tonight, but that would actually be OK—more food and alcohol for us! What's everyone up to today? Anyone snowed in like I am? What are your favorite things to do on a snow day?

Photo Shoot Friday: Let's have some fun this beat is sick I wanna take a ride on your disco stick

Ok, so I was a little hesitant to post these pics because I will never be able to top them myself, and I don't want to spoil you all too much, but they are just too cool not to. My girl Kasey, a photography genius, took them at a party called Vandam at Greenhouse last week, which apparently goes down every Sunday night. I just might have to join you next time, Kase—if I can even make it past the doorman, that is! (Will you give me a makeover??)

Here's Kasey—lookin' hott mama. I'm gonna let the rest of the pics speak for themselves 'cause I don't want to ruin them with my writing!

Last but not least is my boy Zac. I'm loving that 'stache. When are we hanging out, homie?! 

Well, I'm off to D.C. for a party weekend. I hope I survive. It was just last weekend that I declared I wasn't going to let any alcohol past my lips for a loooong time. Oopsie. So what's everyone else doing this weekend? And what are your thoughts about the new and improved PSF?! Check out more of Kasey's amazing photos on her blog here! 

Reality check 1,2,3

Hi all, Debby Downer here. I totally need to vent, if that's alright? No? Tough shit. Here it goes. I just finished my last day of work at The Knot, and while I know it's for the best that I'm moving on, there is something extremely depressing and stressful about the fact that I have just enough money rolling in to cover two months rent and bills. Somehow things always work out, and I just pray that this time is no different.

A friend at work today asked me what job I would want if I could do anything, and I said blogging. Obviously it would be sweet if FnF somehow took off, but even if it didn't, I think it would be awesome to blog for another magazine's web site. I love writing with a voice and being able to interact with readers. Another job I'd love to do one day is have my own newspaper advice column. "Ask Ellen" has a nice ring to it, no? I could also see myself being really passionate about pimping out my amazingly talented friends and somehow starting my own PR biz—even if they were my only clients. How's that saying go? "Shoot for the moon, and land in the stars." Right...I tend to dream big.

Actually, just vocalizing my dream jobs somehow made me feel a little bit better. (How much will it suck though if none of it comes true!!) Up until just ten minutes ago, I was at an all-time low. OK, well I'm still plopped on the couch watching King of Queens and debating whether or not I want to go back out and brave the cold so I can medicate my blues with a little (or a lot) of ice cream. Shockingly, I don't think I will. The only other thing that has managed to perk up my spirits just a bit is looking at this picture of the these squirrels engaging in oral sex. It's pretty damn hilarious. Umm, is it crazy that I'm a wee bit jealous of the one on the receiving end? Right, I think this is about the time I should wrap things up. 

Anyone have encouraging words or favorite inspirational quotes to share? Do my dream jobs seem crazy to you? If you could have any job in the world, what would it be??

Has anyone ever stopped being your friend, but you didn't know why?

I'm at a stage in my life where I really don't need any more friends. So, if a pal totally goes MIA on me, or lets me down or doesn't return my calls, I really don't stress about it too much. That's not to say that my feelings don't get hurt, but I just don't have the energy to keep making the effort with that person anymore. Helllooo, I have enough shit to worry about right now! (Have I mentioned that after today I will be jobless once again? Back to the drawing board!)

I've had a handful of close friends over my lifetime that just stopped being my friend. (And I don't just mean that we lost touch. I've lost touch with people that I'd still consider a friend and vice versa--this is different). There was no call or email with an explanation--it just...happened. A couple of them had issues within themselves that always kinda prevented them from being good friends, so that was easier for me to accept. But there have been others that I took a little more personally. I guess I just think that if you care enough about someone, you'll let them know if they hurt you, even if it's extremely hard to do. I've never done something blatant or intentional to hurt a friend, but I do think there might have been a time or two where something happened that was misinterpreted.

I know I'm being incredibly vague here, but honestly, if any of the people I'm thinking of knew I was referring to them, I'd be a little embarrassed. I doubt they ever think about me and wish things were back to how they used to be in the good ol' days. Ouch, my heart is feeling heavy just from writing this. Ohh well, it's good to get it out. Thanks for listening :)

What about you: Has anyone ever stopped being you friend, but didn't know why? What happened? Does it bother you still?

Yo, where my party people at?!

Hey friends. I'm just chillin' out on the couch watching the Real World/Road Rules Challenge right now, thinking about how I really have been pretty tame party-wise this holiday season. What the hell? Is this what happens when you turn 29? If so, I'm breaking the chain starting....NOW!

This weekend, Liza and I are going to D.C. to visit some buddies, and yes, we will be attending a holiday party. This will be my first one of the season, so I'm gonna bring my A-game with me. This only consists of two things: my drinking boots and Mom's special hot artichoke dip. I can't wait! I'm a bit out of the loop on the holiday party scene—what do people do besides drink and eat? Are games involved? Games, unless they have to do with chugging a beer, or 10, make me a wee bit nervous.

Who has been to an ugly sweater party? I haven't. This is a pic of Foster from last year in Kentucky—I skipped out on this party for reasons I do not remember. What usually goes down at these things? Is there an ugly sweater contest? I don't know why, but the idea doesn't really appeal to me. I mean, ya know, ugly isn't something I do well. Obvi.

So party people: What fun holiday festivities have you been to recently? Anything good coming up? Email me some pics and maybe I'll include them in a post next week!