Photo Shoot Friday: Fancy Party, Fancy People

Last night I did my first super-duper A-list reporting gig! The event was an intimate gala celebrating Chopard's 150th anniversary. (Which is a jewelry company for anyone who may not know. I didn't!) You know from this post that I've talked to a celebrity or two in my day, but never have I ever laid eyes on Gwyneth, Kate, Claire or Christina—WHAT?! 

Before the event I hung out with all the paparazzo. They all seemed to know each other well and even worked together on figuring out what angles would be best to shoot. There was quite the argument about which way the wind was blowing—they take their job seriously! A few of them looked at me funny for snapping this pic, but I didn't care. I guess they're not used to being on the other side of the camera!

Out of all the A-listers there, Christina Ricci was the only one who stopped to talk to reporters. She was ridiculously nice and her waistline is about the size of my pinky finger. 

I tried to ask Kate a question, but got totally SHUT DOWN by a publicist. It sucked, and I was disappointed, especially because I had envisioned us talking and laughing like old girlfriends. Silly, I know. But damn, look how gorgeous she is! 

I was so focused on trying—trying being the operative word—to talk to Gwyneth Paltrow, that I didn't get a chance to snap her pic. Nor would I dare. She is the last person I'd want to piss off! Although, I will say that she was more social than anyone else and seemed very nice. And of course she was off the charts beautiful and skinny and just all-around perfect! 

The gala was held at The Frick Collection. It was super-fancy, and when I wiggled my way back into the party, I instantly regretted my black jeans and blazer outfit choice. After hanging around for a while and getting denied a few times to talk to Claire Danes, I called it quits. I should have stuck around to enjoy the appetizers and bubbly, but I was feeling a little too disheartened to really enjoy it. Ohh well, at least I didn't go down without a fight!

It certainly was an experience. At the time, I wasn't freaking out about seeing these A-listers, but it's just now hitting me. I had an OMFG moment just thinking about it this morning! 

Tell me: If you were at a fancy party, what fancy people would you want to see there?

The Man's Guide To Love

Yesterday I came across a really cute website featured on Glamour.com called The Man's Guide To Love. It's basically just a collection of videos from men of all ages talking about love. Some are pretty clued in, while others are down right clueless. Here are a few of my favorites:

David, 27, "I don't really know what love is."


Yup, sounds about right. If I had to guess, I'd say a lot of people don't know what true love is at that age. Did YOU? I learned what it meant at 25, which I realize is extremely lucky because it's hard to find the real thing. David's naivety is pretty darn endearing though, isn't it?

Jay, 65, "Stay the course."


Aww, how sweet is this man?! He does look a bit like John McCain, but I'm not going to hold that against him. He is so right. Love is work, but it is so worth it.

Chuck, 26, "Be as ruthless as you can be...there's no shame in the game!"


Trickery and deceit? Damn, Chuck! Looks like someone might have had his little heart stomped on in the past. Guys don't really think like this, do they?

So tell me: What do you think of the vids? Guys: What's your take on love? And girls: What do you wish guys knew about it?

F is for FIRED

Yesterday my boyfriend invited me to his book club meeting which is happening TONIGHT. I haven't even cracked the book open (The Stranger by Albert Camus), but he insisted that I'd be able to finish the 123 pages in time. Today is actually the first day in a couple weeks that I really don't have too much on the agenda. I mean, there's always stuff to do, but nothing very pressing. 

So I suppose I could power through the book, but I hate reading in a hurry because there's a good chance I will only absorb about 50 percent of it. And you know how people in book clubs get super analytical about shit and raise obscure points that really don't have anything to do with anything. (Well, I can only assume, but I was an English major so I know what these discussions can be like.) If I glossed over even one paragraph, I'd probably be totally lost!

Plus, I'm not the fastest reader in the world, and I blame that on my kindergarten teacher. I went to a hippie school where we filled our days growing plants, picking berries from a nearby forest and learning how to make homemade ice cream. I am not kidding. I was totally fucked when I got to first grade! Those developmental years are crucial, man!

Plus, starting a new book would mean taking a break from what I'm currently reading: A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton. My bf was like, "You know that's not like a book club type book, right?" Yes, hun, I know. Don't worry, I'm not going to push my guilty pleasure off on anyone else. But I'm getting totally into this murder mystery thing, and lucky me, Sue's written an entire series! B is for Burglar, C is for Corpse...and so on. Geeze, I wish I had thought of that! F is for FIRED: The Unemployment Series. Hey, I like the sound of that!

I go through phases, but lately I've been on a reading kick. Last week I finished The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. Verdict: Two thumbs UP. And before that was After Dark by Haruki Murakami. Verdict: Good, but not amaaazing. I guess Murakami is kind of an "it" author right now, so I basically read the book so I'd be able to chime in on conversations when his name is mentioned. (Um, is that lame?)

An.Y.way. What are you reading right now? Do you have any guilty pleasures when it comes to books? And who is your favorite author? Is is weird that I don't really have one??

On a scale of 1 to 10: How domestic are you?

Ohh I'd say I'm about a four. You guys know this. I'm more inclined to tidy and stuff things under the bed than actually getting down on my hands and knees to scrub/wipe/dust something. And my idea of a yummy home-cooked meal very well might involve something out of a can. (After all, black beans make everything better.) And even though I truly do enjoy baking and entertaining, I rarely do it. Why? Because it's expensive. And my apartment is small. I'm confident I will step up my domestic game to at least a 7 when the time comes for me to be a wifey and a mommy, but for now I'm going to eat cereal and froyo for dinner without a flicker of guilt.

So yeah, you can only imagine my reaction when I got a voice message from Courtenay last night telling me she was heading to her smock making class. Smock making? Yes. Now that is some SERIOUS domestic shit, y'all. Off.the.charts. I have friends who are gardening (you know, for fun), buying houses and popping out babes, but this smock making business takes first prize. Court reasoned that making a little baby smock thingy is only about $20 compared to the $80 baby dresses sold at boutiques. Makes sense. Even still, kudos to you, girlfriend!

I don't think I would have succeeded as a 50's, 60's or even 70's housewife. I believe in taking care of your man and all that jazz, but I have limits. My mom waited on my dad hand and foot. He certainly deserved it, but his inability to make a ham sandwich or bring dirty dishes to the sink was pretty darn humorous! Bless his heart.

So tell me: How domestic are you on a scale of 1 to 10? How have things changed as you've gotten older?

Have you ever burned a bridge at work?

I haven't, and I'm starting to think that might not be such a good thing. People who look out for themselves seem to be the ones who get ahead quicker. A few months after I lost my job, I got a freelance gig in the research department at a wedding magazine. I knew the work would be tedious, but with no other prospects in sight, I happily accepted it. About two weeks later, I got an email from an editor at a newspaper offering me a full-time freelance job that basically required playing matchmaker to all the singles in NYC. Hello, fun job! I was bursting with excitement until I realized, shit, I already had a job. 

I tried to figure out a way to do both, but it just wasn't working out. And even though I didn't sign a contract with the first job, I just couldn't find it in myself to quit after I had already started. Is everyone thinking I'm a total idiot right now? Probably. I went from having to choose between two jobs to not even having ONE. Sweet. Will being a nice, honest person ever get me anywhere? It doesn't feel like it. But, I just don't know how to be anything or anyone other than who I am. For better or worse. 

It's hard for me not to look back and wish I had made a different decision. However, I do believe in all the cliches about how everything happens for a reason, so I'm just gonna go with that. What choice do I have anyway? Plus, if I had taken the second job, I probably wouldn't be here writing to all of YOU on this very blog. 

So be honest here: Do you think I made the wrong decision? Have you ever been in a similar situation? And have you ever burned a bridge at work?

The FnF Club: "I got fired from Hardee's!"

Sometimes I feel like the ONLY person in the world who has been fired from a job, so I'm making it my personal mission to find as many people as possible who have also received the pink slip. Check out my hairdresser, Ron's, story below!

Ok, so I know I said in this post that I hate when people exploit their gay friends, but I just couldn't resist. Ron is so funny, and I love how he used his unemployment to help pay for beauty school. Fab, indeed! And umm, hello biceps! I think we all needed a little Monday morning eye candy ;)

Tell me: What do you think of this story? What jobs did you have as a teen? I'm sure it won't surprise you to know that my first job was at an ice cream shop! And I'd love to hear YOUR Fired to Fab story! Shoot me an email and I'll make you an honorary member of the FnF club and feature you on the blog!

New Season, New Hair Color

Well I'm back in NYC, and I'd be lying if I said I was super-excited about it. It's never easy coming back to the big bad city after a nice, relaxing visit at home. 

One of the highlights, literally, was getting my hair done by my friend Ron who I've been going to since high school. I never ever do anything to my hair, so I thought I'd take a walk on the wild since and get some color put in it. 

Ron spotted a GRAY HAIR and plucked it from my head. I was not too happy about that. 

And here's the finished product! It's not exactly a huge change, but I really liked the outcome. I've heard for years that highlights can make your hair appear thicker, and while I'm not so sure that's true in my case, I'm choosing to believe it. 

Ahh, going to my hairdresser at home is just the BEST. We can catch up and laugh and I don't have to worry about someone trying to trick me into buying treatments I can't afford. Check in tomorrow for a little video I did with Ron. He's a riot—I heart him. 

What about you: Do you change your hair color with the seasons? What's your hairdresser like? 

Blog FAIL

So yeah, after I went on and on the other day about never ever neglecting the blog or you guys again, it happened....I didn't put up a post yesterday. (Not that anyone really cared/noticed/was affected by this at all, but still.) But please know that I did try. My internet connection at home totally sucks, so I dragged my sorry, hungover, sweatpants wearing self to Starbucks. (Umm yeah, Friday night I thought it would be an awesome idea to drink six glasses of wine BEFORE going out. Smart.) Well guess what, the internet connection wasn't working there either, and since I was feeling too ill to drive to another location, I just went home and crawled into bed.

This morning I woke up early so I could go back to Starbucks and put up a post before I left for the airport. Again, the connection wasn't working, even after spending 15 minutes on the phone with AT&T. I'm feeling quite frustrated at the moment, but I guess this happened for a reason. I think the blogging gods are telling me I should be at home hanging with my mom instead of at hanging out in a coffee shop. And they are right.

Oh and have you seen this FAIL blog? It's pretty funny. I love the dude with the "Ladies love this" tattoo above his lip. Now that's just straight up sexy.

When's the last time you put forth the effort, but nothing seemed to be going your way? Ya know, like when you pack a gym bag and bring it to work, only to get to the gym later and realize you forgot your sports bra. That is the WORST! Anyway, hopefully I'll have time to blog at the airport, but if not, I'll hit ya with a post tonight!

Photo Shoot Friday: Fierce Fashion Without the Bullshit

Remember this amazing presentation I went to during Fashion Week? Well, you can only imagine my excitement when one of the designers of Falls emailed lil ol' ME about their sample sale this week! Would I like to come take a sneak peek of the Spring/Summer collection? Umm, Yes, please! You know I'm pretty much incapable of playing anything cool, so I responded immediately and tried my hardest to contain my excitement. (I know I failed.)

When I got to the sale and saw that the atmosphere was intimate, I was relieved. I just don't have it in me to fight off bitches while I shop! Here are the highlights:

I love the structure of this top and the ruching on the sleeves. So cool. So chic. I want it I want it I want it!

I'm all about stripes these days, and lately I've been into ruffles too. Put the two together and this is what you get: Perfection.

Pretty prints are imperative for summer!

And here we have the uber-talented designers, Leong and Philip. When Philip exclaimed, "We don't design for tall, skinny rich girls!" I wanted to give him a big fat slobbery kiss. And even though tall skinny rich girls do wear their clothing, it was really cool to know that they get inspiration from their friends--real people--and keep different body types in mind when they design.

The guys were so cool and down-to-earth and entertained all of my generic, "So how did you get started in the industry?" type questions. At one point Leong was lost for words, so he just blurted out, "You can never have too many hats, gloves or shoes!" I later learned he was quoting Patsy from the UK television show, Absolutely Fabulous. Apparently she says this when she's being interviewed and doesn't know what else to say. I think I'll use this tactic next time someone asks me what I DO. The show sounds like a riot--maybe I can convince my bf to watch it with me instead of Peep Show. Maybe? An.Y.way. Back to the clothes!

There were some vintage pieces at the sale too. Hello amazing, sparkly, sequin caplet!

And this YSL dress was acquired by one of their model friends, Grace Kelsey. Love. (Grace has been on Project Runway! Who watched the finale last night?!)

And when Philip asked me if I wanted to pick out a gift for myself I almost passed out. Something better than FREE soup and FREE Grey Goose? Is it possible? Yes, friends, it is. This top was my favorite piece, and I was beyond thrilled when I tried it on and loved the fit, too. I think I'm going to wear it tonight, only with dressier jeans and a blazer, perhaps. Watch out, Lexington, here I come!

So tell me: Have you ever been to a sample sale? What was your experience? And what's on your must-have list this summer?!

Airport Food: Gross or yummy?

Mornin'! What's going down friends? I'm just at home being laaazy and I love it! So yesterday I didn't get any Airport Style pics because Liza and I were running late for our flight and I didn't have time to stop and snap. Bummer, huh? But here I am!

I've got my usual traveling staples on—American Apparel leggings and Frye boots. The Tulle hoodie is from Goldy+Mac where I work, and my bf got me this Zara trench! I'll never be the girl who's head-to-toe glam at the airport, but at least I'm not hiding under a baseball cap with Juicy sweatpants hanging off my ass, right?

Liza and I were starving when we landed at the Cincinnati airport, but there were ZERO healthy options. Subway is usually my go-to place, but there wasn't one in the food court. I loved the greasy bigger-than-your-head slices of pizza at Sbarro when I was a teen, but I've eaten enough pizza the last few weeks to last me a lifetime, so that was out. I was pretty positive I wouldn't be able to resist the waffle fries at Chick-Fil-A, so that was a no, so I decided on McDonald's. I got one crispy chicken snack wrap with honey mustard. It wasn't the healthiest choice I could have made, but at 260 calories, it's not so bad. 

A lot of health bloggers carry plastic baggies of mixed nuts, dry cereal, PB sandwiches or energy bars on them while they travel for this very reason, but I'm usually not that prepared. (I know, I know: If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.) Ohh well. A little McDonald's every once in a while never hurt anyone!

Ok, guys, I'm off to work on Photo Shoot Friday which will be up later this afternoon. Smell ya later!

Tell me: Is airport food gross or yummy to you? What's your go-to spot? Do you bring your own snacks? I packed a lot of healthy snacks one trip my bf and I took to London, but I ended up eating them all in ADDITION to lots of fried food and beer. Whoopsie!

It's all about ME

Hi friends! Yes, I'm alive. I know it is so unlike me to leave you hanging all day long without an explanation as to what exactly I'm up to, but like I said the other day, things have been a little nuts lately. I'm trying to adjust to my schedule, which has been pulling me in lots of different directions lately, and it's been more challenging than I had anticipated. That's one very tough thing about working as a freelancer--even when the work is done, you're not. There's always something more I can and should be doing. It's just so hard to stop and peel my fingers off the keyboard! I never feel that I'm in a position to just take it easy because, well, my career is far from secure. Sometimes I feel like my CAREER has totally dissipated. I want/need/HAVE to get it back! I will, I will, I will!

So this morning I had a decision to make: Write a blog post or go running. I didn't have time to do both, so I chose the latter. And as much as it hurt me to leave you hanging like that, I really just needed to do something for myself. Plus, if I had skipped the run, this post very easily could have been a rant about how lazy and gross I feel, and I know how much you hate that ;) So really, everyone is a winner here.

The older I get, the more selfish I am. I'm no longer the girl who overcommits myself to things and does favors for everyone even when it's not reciprocated. I pick and choose who I spend my time with and how I spend it. I used to have such a hard time telling anyone no, but now it's a lot easier and it feels good. With that being said, even though this am was all about ME, I will *pinky* promise you now that there won't be many more times I choose a run in the park over YOU ever again.

Ohh and I totally forgot to mention that I'm home in KY right now! Umm, hello! Don't worry, I'll be posting every single day--maybe even twice a day--so definitely check back in! So tell me: Do you have a hard time being a little selfish like I used to? How important is having a "me" day every once in a while?

It all started with a Christmas Card...

Whoa, look who jumped back on the two-a-day posting bandwagon! Better late than never, right? So my bf and I watched an episode of Mad Men last night (almost done with Season 3!), and at the end there was an interview with Dyna Moe, a super-quirky badass chick who has blown UP for her MM illustrations.

And it all started with this Christmas card she drew for Rich Sommer (Harry on the show.) He gave it to the cast as a present in 2007, and everyone loved it so much that Dyna was encouraged to keep drawing. And drawing. And drawing. From desktop wallpaper to calendars, she has done it all!

Apparently one of the post popular illustrations was the one of Betty shooting birds with a rifle with a cig hanging out of her mouth. I did like that episode, and it's always a joy to see Betty so out of character, but this is one of my personal faves. I flipped out the first time I saw half-dressed women riding on the guys' backs at the office, but eh, after a while you get used to it. And the characters are so on point it's crazy--I totally see why the illustrations have received so much buzz!

Don't you just love these type of succes stories? What's the best one you've heard? A friend also told me that the dude who started the Satorialist used to install cable for a living before his site blew up. Apparently he was a huge proponent of guerilla marketing and just passed out stickers like crazy. I can't say that rumor is 100 percent fact, but I'm choosing to believe it is. And Mad Men fans: What are your predictions for Season 4? I can't WAIT!

Characters at the gym: Take 2

I've decided to make this a semi-regular post because people watching at the gym is pretty darn entertaining. Here are a few characters I've spotted recently:

1. Euro guy: What is it with Europeans and their workout attire? Either it's too tight, too random, too...I dunno...just wrong. The guy I noticed the other day was a Brit. (I eventually overheard him talk to a trainer, but I could tell he was English from a mile away.) He had on weird track pants that were too tight on his thighs, a short-sleeved Polo shirt (collar was not popped, thank God) and Converse-style sneaks. Oh and yes, there was gel in his hair. I saw him on a few weight machines, but I'm pretty certain not one single bead of sweat broke out on his precious little forehead. Hey, mate, hit up Footlocker and run off that beer belly next time why dontcha?!

2. And this brings me to my next character: Denim Dude. If you don't look like this hard-bodied hotness above, then you are not allowed to wear jeans to the gym, ok? The other week I saw a guy running on the treadmill who was wear jeans. JEANS! I came thisclose to trying to sneak a pic of him, but I just didn't have the heart to go through with it. But C'mon, guy. This look is not sexy. Or cool. Or even COMFORTABLE for crying out loud! I mean, that just can't be healthy for his man parts. And what about chafing? Holy cow, I'm in pain just thinking about it!

3. Kool-Aid Skinny: I see her at the gym a lot. She is ridiculously skinny and freakishly toned. The way her back muscles pop out is just not natural. From what I can tell, she does the elliptical for two hours at a time. At least. (The only reason I'm ever at the gym that long is if I do cardio before a yoga class.) She uses the same machine every single time and she always has two huge water bottles full of a mysterious red drink that looks like Kool-Aid. My guess is that it's sugar free Crystal Light, though. Something isn't right here. I think homegirl needs a little help, and I hope she gets it!

And if you missed my last gym post, check it out here. I don't know if anyone has noticed, but so far this week I haven't been posting twice a day like I usually do. Things are a bit nuts right now, but keep checking in because I will be back on track very very soon!

Tell me: What interesting characters have you spotted at the gym lately? Have you ever seen any that I mentioned?

"Where is this going?"

That's what I naively asked my first college "boyfriend" after we had been "hanging out" for a couple months. Big mistake. Huge. (Did anyone else say that in a Julia Roberts/Pretty Woman voice? I hope so.) He totally wigged out and didn't talk to me for a month. And that, my friends, set the precedent for our two-year rollercoaster relationship. (Hello, red flag!) I later learned that I had opened the floodgates to having THE TALK. I had no idea it was such a big deal. Geeze.

There are so many stages to dating—I just gets exhausting. The "talking" phase is the trickiest. You like someone, they like you, you have fun together, so why is it so gosh darn hard to make that next step? Well, that's exactly how I feel about making new friends as an adult.

Gone are the days you proposition someone with a lick of your ice cream cone or just flat out ask them to be your friend. (Btw, if anyone wants to be my friend, the ol' ice cream trick will TOTALLY work.) It's frustrating because I have a lot of friends in NYC that I'm in the "talking" stage with, but I just don't know how graduate to the let's-hang-out-in-our-yoga pants-and-watch-movies-on-a-Sunday-night type of friend.

Or, am I just being greedy? I do have lots of friends here, and a few that I know will be in my life forever, but I'm still constantly searching for more people I can truly connect with. I used to be embarrassed to bring this subject up (I mean, who wants to admit they want more friends?), but I'm finding more and more that it's something lots of people want and struggle with later on in life. Take Rachel at MWFSeekingBFF for example!

So what's your advice for me readers: How do I turn casual friendships into the real thing? I know I can't just flat out ask "WHERE IS THIS GOING?!" but oh, I really want to. And where are you on the friendship-o-meter—are you happy with what ya got or do you wish you had a few more pals? Oh and does anyone have a good story about busting out the "talk" with a guy?

Ellen Collis: Private Eye

Happy Monday, guys! Let's start the week off with a little celebrity dish, shall we? During my short-lived tabloid reporting career, I was sent on a few exciting assignments. At the time, they were nerve-wracking as hell, but now I look back at the memories and laugh. One time I was sent to spy on Brangelina's kids at school (yes, I know, I'm a terrible person.) I was peeking through fences and the whole nine. I didn't get a ton of juicy scoop, but one reason for that might have been the fact that I was cruising around town in a rental car brighter than Big Bird. Um, I wasn't exactly rolling around town incognito! At one point a teacher started walking towards my car and I drove off. I called my editor (not the one who fired me) to tell him, and he said,"Oh yeah, I'm sure they've got your license plate number by now!" as if it was no thang. Um, right. He was a crazy character. I'm pretty certain if I had called him from jail to tell him I had been arrested for trespassing, he would have been really excited about it.

Another time I had to drive to a random town in New Jersey to pick up divorce papers that documented infidelities of an A-list celebrity. It was my first time driving in and out of the city, and to say that I was a hot scared mess would be a major understatement. But, I pulled it together and got the job DONE. I have a little secret on how exactly I made it happen, but I'm taking that with me to the grave!

The biggest story I did was in Pennsylvania on the Gosselin family. I was in four (or was it five?) cities in just a few days digging up all the dirt I could find on Jon and Kate's mess of a marriage. And it must be mentioned that I was sent WITHOUT a GPS. Anyone who knows me is laughing hysterically right now because they know (and have possibly witnessed) that I have the worst sense of direction in the world. I printed out like 10 different directions and maps online of all the possible places I might be going. And once I actually got to PA, I found a Kinko's and printed off several more.

My adventure was pretty much like what you see in the movies. I knocked on neighbors' doors (several of which were slammed in my face), and went to bars, grocery stores, malls, restaurants, nail salons, etc. to talk to as many people as possible. I got a lot of great scoop, and quickly realized a common theme: Kate is a raging BIOTCH. I'm sure Jon has plenty of issues of his own (his horrid fashion sense being a minor one), but everyone who knew the fam had terrible things to say about Kate. Here are just a few things I learned:

1. She gets every for FREE (I suppose we all figured that). She'd even expense the smallest thing, like a Starbucks coffee. Umm yeah, I'm jealous. And from the sound of it, so was everyone in town. Why? Well...

2. According to several sources I talked to (including a former co-worker at the hospital Kate worked at), she got two fertility treatments in one day at two different hospitals. I'm not sure why, but obviously she was up to something. People are very resentful of her "fame" because it seemed to be far from an accident.

3. A neighbor told me that when the Gosselins moved into the neighborhood, she brought over a lasagna dish. THREE MONTHS later the dish was returned on the neighbor's front stoop. Without a thank you note.

4. Another neighbor complimented her fugly peacock haircut (Why? I have no idea), and Kate scrunched up her nose and gave her a nasty "Why-the-hell-are-you-speaking-to-me?!" look. I repeat, NO ONE is jealous of you, Kate!

5. On the first day of school one year, all the moms were taking pictures of their children. Naturally, Kate assumed the pics were being taken of her kids and went berserk and made a huge scene.

Umm yeah, it was an interesting experience to say the least! I kinda liked being a private eye, but I'll certainly be happy if I never have to do a job like that again. It was CRAZY! What do you think of the Gosselin fam? And Kate? And if you could spy on any celeb--who would it be?!

I am not Superwoman

Although I really wish I was, and no, not just because I want her ridiculously chiseled guns. I woke up today at 7:30 so I could do a Physique57 DVD workout, a quick run and write a blog post before I had to head into work at the boutique. Well, I didn't finish my post. As much as I try to just shoot from the hip, sometimes I do need to stop and think about what I'm writing, and it just wasn't flowing today.

So no, I'm not Superwoman and I can't get everything done with a snap of my fingers. However, I did write a guest blog over at Ketchup Diaries today! I dished on some of my favorite celebrity reporting experiences. Some of it will be familiar, some of it is new. Head on over the check it outtt!

Tell me: If you could have one superhero power, what would it be?

Have YOU ever fired someone from a job?

Last night, Liza and I watched Up In The Air. Well, I should rephrase that. I watched twenty minutes before I dozed off on the couch. Pathetic. But from what I could put together, George Clooney's character is hired by other companies to fire people for a living. Kind of seems like a waste of money doesn't it? If you want to give someone the pink slip, just MAN UP and do it yourself! 

While I'm positive the editor who fired me did not lose a wink of sleep over it, I thought his delivery was pretty weak. He couldn't even look me in the eye as he gave me some BS excuse about my inability to "pull in the contacts they needed." (Umm, you knew from the jump that I had no prior tabloid reporting experience. Doesn't it take more than a few months to develop strong contacts? Whateves.) And even though I was both fuming and crying on the inside, I took the high road and extended my hand to end the 60-second conversation in a cordial manner. However, what I really wish I had done is this. 

So tell me: Have YOU ever fired someone from a job? Was it hard to do? And if you could fire anyone, who would it be? I think I'd go with Sarah Palin. I could totally do without turning on the TV and seeing her face on it. P.S. I recently realized on a previous post that I said "you betcha!" and I almost diiied. Never again.

Photo Shoot Friday: Drinking the expensive shit for FREE

Happy Friday everyone! Remember this post where I got FREE happy hour drinks? Well, I won again! At Turtle Bay, everyone's a winner. I can now no longer gripe that I never win anything because it just is not true. 

Here I am with E-V-E. I was so happy—and a little surprised—she stopped by. She's one of the chillest (and the illest) people I know, but Turtle Bay isn't exactly her scene. Check out her blog to see what I mean. And I already gave you a sneak peek of my outfit last week. The skirt is by Free People—I got it from work! Oh wow, another thing I got for FREE. 

I looked over and saw Eve and her girls texting like maniacs. Too funny! (From left: Sarah, Jessica and Lauren.) They're so much fun. I'm kind of wondering what it's going to take for me to wiggle my way into their inner circle. Is there a handshake? Initiation? What? I can stop listening to Top 40 music girls, I swear. (Er, at least I won't openly admit that I like it!) Jessica suggested I ask for Grey Goose so I wouldn't be drinking "cheap shit" all night, and I wasn't sure if the bartenders would give it to me, but they did. Smart thinking, Jess!

The usual suspects: Jenn and Liza

I caught the DJ doing the sprinkler. Sweet. He played some old school beats like Salt 'n' Peppa's "Shoop" and NKOTB's "Step by Step." I belted out every single word.

You know that's Lindsay with her shiny ass hair. I turned her on to vodka-waters at the last happy hour and she hasn't looked back since!

Not sure who random dude is. There were a few that night, but none really worth mentioning. I felt bad because a cocktail waitress pretty much forced a man (I say man because I'm certain he was over 40) to buy me a shot even though I said I really didn't need it. So I took the shot, said thanks and left to join my friends. 

Looks like these gals were really enjoying the happy hour, too! When's the last time you danced on a table?

The FREE drinks ended at 9pm, so I rushed to the bar at 8:57 to get one more. I got DENIED by the first two bartenders I asked, but this nice guy served me right up.

Yes, I do occasionally feature soft porn on the blog. Who wishes they were that chicken finger right now? I kinda do ;)

Umm yeah, I definitely didn't need that last drink. Things got a little messy at the end there, but at least I was home in bed by 10:30!

When's the last time you got to drink for FREE? And are you a gulp-and-leave kind of girl when a guy buys you a drink, or do you stick around to chat? What's everyone up to this weekend? I'll mostly be working, and hopefully sleeping. I've been so tired this week!

Confessions of a Broke-Ass Blogger

Remember the time I had a salad-gasm? Well, I had another one today, only this time it didn't come with  a FREE soup. Damn. What made it so special you ask? I've eaten a cheese slice for either lunch or dinner for the last FOUR days. Eww. Grossss. My body was really craving veggies, and since I got a paycheck in the mail today, I decided to treat myself to a trip to Hale and Hearty Soup. That place is my JAM!

It was a whopping $8, but I just needed it, y'all. (For the record, I do not even know why I say "y'all" so much. I am not that Southern. For realsy reals. I kind of say it in a Britney Spears voice in my head, if you can picture what that sounds like?) My salad contained: Romaine lettuce, walnuts, egg whites, cucumber, chicken, peppers, onion, corn, carrots, tomatoes and a drizzle of Balsamic. Dangit, I forgot the apples! Regardless, it was de-lish. 

I hate that I resorted to eating so much pizza in my time of desperation, but I seriously do not know how to eat healthy on the super-cheap. It seems so HARD. I always end up cooking the same three things and eating them over and over, which ends up just totally yucking me out on everything. So then pizza it is. And my friends at my neighborhood spot are so gosh darn nice. I can pay for a slice all in coins and they don't even flinch. I feel so pathetic, but their warm smiles reassure me that I'm not the first person who has done it!

And this is going to be my dinner tonight with a sweet potato and black beans on the side. Frozen veggies, I know—not the best choice ever, but it was only $1.60 and I really LIKE this mix. (With a little Olive Oil, of course.) If I were a food blogger, I'd probably be sent straight to food blogging prison, but, Phew, I'm not. 

Why hello there! (I just said that in an English accent, fyi.) This is my standard uniform on days I am at home. Technically my weekend is almost over because Wednesday and Thursday are my only non-working days this week. Tomorrow I'm back at Women's Health, Saturday I'm doing my reporting thang for Glamour all day and Sunday I'm at the boutique. Hooray for money coming in! 

OK, so I have one more teensy confession to make. Yesterday I stopped into The Lite Choice on W. 72nd Street for a small cup of Cookies 'n' Cream because I had a FREE coupon. (And, um, because I love it.) Upon wolfing it down, I went into Subway to get a small bag of Baked Lays. That was lunch. Double-eww. But yes, I was THAT broke. 

I'm totally outing myself right now because I'm forever complaining to my bf that the scale just won't budge even though I've totally cut down on sweets. Umm yeah...and he bought a bigger-than-my-head chocolate chip cookie at our favorite coffee shop after dinner yesterday, too! SCREW YOU BIKINI SEASON!

Ok, now this has got to be the longest nonsense I have written in a while. Sorry 'bout that. But before I sign off, I want to give a shout out to a few of my favorite fitness/food bloggers that inspire me every single day. (Even if I'm not following their lead!) Heya Kelly, Megan and Caitlin! Ohh and I just found this one, too. I entered the Barney Butter giveaway contest—fingers crossed I win! I'm such a sucker for FREE FOOD.

Ok, I'm finally saying adios. Tell me: Do you have any food confessions to get out in the open? C'mon, I don't want to be the only one! And what's your go-to food when you're low on funds?

Online Dating

Have you done it? Are you currently doing it? Would you admit it if you were? I have a boyfriend, so it's easy for me to say Ohh, no, that's something I'd never do, but the truth is, I'd probably give online dating a try if I was single. I mean, hello, remember the NYC tools I mentioned in this post? It's hard to meet people in this city (or anywhere for that matter) that you truly click with, so why not?

Yesterday I met Laurie, the founder of eFlirtexpert.com for coffee. (Remember these FnF stickers I was putting in bathrooms all over NYC? That's how she found me!) Basically, eFlirt consults people in their online dating ventures, (everything from how to write your profile bio to finding the right person for you) and helps them navigate their way around a seemingly overwhelming world on the web. The company has been getting tons of media buzz recently, and that's because people need HELP.

I asked Laurie a million questions, but one of the most interesting things she told me is that choosing the right dating site for YOU is crucial. (I had no idea it mattered--did you?) Although there are literally hundreds and each vary from city to city, she gave me a few examples for NYC:

Okcupid.com: This is a more creative, edgy crowd. You might find a VH1 producer, a broadway babe or a zen accupuncturist surfing the site. Some of these singles are looking for relationships and others want to casually date.

Match.com: Has a mix of people from those who want a committed relationship to the just-want-to-have-fun singles. You'll find a more business-minded crowd here: finance executives, entrepreneurs, sales professionals and marketing coordinators.

Chemistry.com and eHarmony.com: Are less about a specific lifestyle or personality and more about singles seeking a serious commitment. You need to be a patient dater since your matches are given to you (no searching allowed), and your communication patterns are more lengthy.

Well, you're in luck single ladies and gents! Laurie has offered any FnF reader a FREE analysis on how to get started with this whole online dating thang. Just shoot me an email and I'll put you in touch with her! And please, don't be shy. I won't judge. AND every Wednesday Laurie gives FREE flirting advice at a random bar in Manhattan. Follow her on Twitter @eFlirtexpert for the locations each week!

So tell me: What are your thoughts about online dating? Does anyone have any stories to share?! SPILL.IT.

Banana Facial FAIL

Hey guys! Totally forgot to announce the winner of the Crazy Busy Beautiful book yesterday. I did Eeny meeny miny moe (Ok, now that looks weird as hell, but it's the spelling I got from Wikipedia) and landed on Elizabeth! Her comment was:

1. Black liquid eyeliner-I can wear any time, any situation, for a classy, timeless look.
2. Finding a foundation that matches my fair skin tone! I have to buy expensive just to find a shade that doesn't make it look like I'm wearing a mask. I'm proud of my fair skin but for a poor college student, it presents quite the dilemma. 
3. The all-natural Jojoba oil (don't even quite know what it is anyway) at Trader Joe's doesn't make my hair healthy and shiny, it makes in look like I don't own a shower! First day I tried it, I didn't have time to wash it out before going to class :S

Shoot me an email with your address, girl! And I'd love it so much if you took a pic with the book. Maybe somewhere on campus? It's always me me ME on the blog—I want to see some of YOU for a change! 

So last night I decided to do the banana facial the book suggested. I didn't go over the instructions again (stupid stupid) because I was so sure I had it down. Mash up a banana, spread it on your face. Easy. So I put this on my forehead. After about 30 seconds it started sliding down my face. Ewww. I kept pushing it back up, only for it to slide back down again. Then I finally turned to the book to see what went wrong: Mash up a really ripe banana. Oopsie! No wonder it was impossible to spread all over my face. 

It was an epic FAIL. However, I must say, when I wiped the banana off my face did feel refreshed and smooth. Seriously. 

My friends in college were amazed at how poorly I took care of my skin. I went to the tanning bed a lot (gross), didn't wear moisturizer and went to sleep with makeup on more times than I'd like to admit. But over the last five years or so, I've changed all of that. I'm more aware of wrinkles now than ever, and since I really don't know if I will ever be game for Botox (never say never though), I've got to do all I can to keep those fine lines at bay. Face cleansers and moisturizers are very much a part of my routine now, and I'm constantly chugging water like a maniac. 

Tell me: What's your skin care routine? How has it changed over the years?

A Typical Manhattan Morning

Yesterday Liza and I left the apartment at the same time to go to work. She was off to her career-job and I was headed to Brooklyn for my job-job, but I was just happy to be going SOMEWHERE. We were chatting and as I was blabbing away, I noticed she was answering all my questions with "Uh huh..yeah." And then I looked over to see her typing away on her Blackberry! Figures. Everyone has a Blackberry. Except me. I told myself I wouldn't get one until 1. I could afford it. 2. I truly needed it. There are times when I'm away from my computer for more than an hour that I start to get really antsy about not being able to check my email, but I'm not at the can't-live-without-it point yet. 

And how cute is Liza?! I ran ahead of her so I could catch her in the moment. She didn't realize what was happening until after I snapped the pic—too late! And in case anyone's wondering, she's wearing:

Jacket: Marc by Marc Jacobs

Jeans: Sevens

Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs

Belt: From our mom's closet

Ankle booties: Miu Miu (Sad you can't see them)

And then I popped into Starbucks and we parted ways. I know I need to kick my caffeine habit, but I allow myself to have it every time I'm going to work in the morning because it makes me so gosh darn happy. Sadly though, I've recently had to ditch my beloved lattes for just regular coffee because it's half the price. Sad, indeed. 

And when I hopped onto the subway, I saw this cool cat:

                            

That is some subway SWAGGER, y'all! Lean with it, rock with it. Too bad that chick had to interrupt the performance just as I was getting into it. And don't you love how no one else seems to be phased by this? Yup, just a typical morning in NYC!

Tell me: What are your mornings usually like? Do you ever run into any interesting characters? Does the coffee/bagel/muffin guy know you by name? 

Working smart vs. Working hard

I struggle with this. I am a workhorse. I love to work. Work, work, work. Go in early, stay late, sacrifice sleep--and sanity--to get the job DONE. But, more times than not, I know I'm not necessarily working smart, in which case clocking in the hours doesn't really mean shit.

It's just hard because I'm juggling so many different balls at once--the endless job search, my blog, a PT job (which some weeks has FT hours), freelance gigs, networking, etc. Sometimes I just want to tackle the tasks that are easy or give me instant satisfaction first. I mean, is there actually a human being who likes writing cover letters? Or has mastered it? If so, teach me the ways almighty one!

Liza's really good at prioritizing and working efficiently and hard without going overboard. I'm attempting to take a cue from her. For instance, the other week I was approached for a freelance gig for a magazine I would LOVE to work for. (And have interviewed with, a few times, and come thisclose to landing a job at.) The phone interview was super casual, and as soon as I hung up, I went into Ellen-mode trying to brainstorm a special project I could do over the weekend to make myself stand out from the rest of the candidates. And then the strangest thing happened. I didn't have ONE good idea. Not one. What the heck? How can this happen to a self-professed "ideas person"? (Well, I can't disclose what the subject matter was, but that actually does partially explain my brain freeze.)

To make a short story shorter, I didn't turn in a project at all. I kept revisiting it throughout the weekend, but nothing was clicking, and I had other work that needed to be done. I didn't get the job (obvi cuz you guys would have been the FIRST ones to know about it!), but I didn't regret not going the extra mile this time. Sometimes doing work just for the sake of it is not the way to go. At least not to me. Plus, I got other things accomplished that weekend, one of which included SLEEP. Ha!

What about your thoughts about working hard vs. working smart? Do you struggle with this?

Word of the day: POSITIVITY

So I made this video yesterday am, but after reading more of your comments on the Obnoxious Bloggers post, I wasn't sure if I should. When I'm being "bitchy" it gets noticed.  And people talk. And I like that. (Even if I was crying on the inside—and well, the outside too—on Sunday night!) So does anyone want to see nice Ellen? Is that boring? If I admit that my feelings were deeply hurt by comments, am I surrendering? Have I lost the battle? Well, I don't care. I don't calculate or manipulate my words—99 percent of the time I'm simply thinking out loud. So here I am, for better or worse.

Before I made the vid, I repeated "I don't give a fuck what a hater's gotta say" to myself over and over in my best Rick Ross voice, but I guess I'm just not gangster like that. I do care. But I got it out and now it's over. Let's move on and be friends. Shall we? 

Ohh and can we just discuss that I said the word, um, like. And that my facial expressions could use some serious help? And that I repeated myself on more than one occasion in three minutes? Whatever you were thinking while you watched, I probably was, too. Ohh well!

So yes, the word of the day is POSITIVITY. Without a positive attitude, I would most certainly be curled up in a ditch somewhere. Some of you have written me and said that even when I'm being negative, I'm positive, which I think is pretty cool. 

Do you have a positive attitude? When's the last time you had to push negativity out of your life? And which Ellen do you like better—nice or bitchy? Haha!

Things That Should Be Illegal: Take 2

Ranting, list-making, let's do THIS! Things that should be illegal:

1. Rapping on the subway. "You're all up in my face, such a disgrace, I ain't got this kinda time to WASTE. Yeah...Uh..." You are not Eminem. Or Jigga, or Weezy or Rick or 50. And flow that rhymes? It's wiggity wiggity WHACK, yo!

2. Not picking up your dog's shit. Oh wait, that IS illegal. (Um, right?) Hey guy in 5D, you owe New York City about $5,000. And since my tennis shoes have your pooch's poo all over them, I'll take a new pair of New Balances sneaks. Size 7.5, pleaze.

3. Coming into a clothing store 60 seconds before closing. And browsing like you have no idea what time it is. Chick, it's 7:59 on a Monday night. Is it necessary to make a mess of all the jeans/scarves/T-shirts I just neatly folded? This seriously should be illegal. I will personally handcuff the next person who does this to me.

4. WHAT HAPPENED?! Ok, so if you don't live in New York or New Jersey, you might not know what I'm talking about. Lucky you. There are actually people who say "What happened?" or, more times than not, "Wha happenin'?" when they didn't hear something you said. So instead of saying, "Pardon?" or "Come again?" or "What did you say?" it's WHAT HAPPENED?

5. Waiting more than four minutes in line at Starbucks. Repeat after me: Grande.skim.latte. Grandeskimlatte, Grandeskimlatte—same drink, different day. Get it right and make it speedy.

6. Snooki. I said it once, and upon seeing this pic, I just had to say it again. Head to toe, that shit should be illegal.

7. Calling something "little guy." Like, when you're not referring to a boy under the age of ten. Necklaces are not little guys. Neither are muffins.

8. Kim Kardashian's ass. But that's only because I'm jealous.

9. Calling someone you've known less than a month by their nickname. This drives me NUTS. I take nicknames seriously. You should be supa dupa close to someone before you go calling them a name their childhood besties gave them. It was at least six months before I was comfortable enough to call one of my best guy friends from high school by his. (Hi, Bull!)

10. Umm, I dunno. I'm all outta juice. You tell me. What else should be illegal? If you missed my first TTSBI post, peep it here!