So long, Southampton!

Hi friends! Sorry I was out of touch yesterday—we were at the beach all day and by the time we got back to the house it was time to cook dinner and get ready for the night. Hard life, I know. It's so beautiful here—this break from the big bad city was very much needed. 

Here's our house—isn't it so cute? I've decided to save most of the pics from the trip for Photo Shoot Friday (perhaps I will break it up in two installments?), so you'll have to wait a few days to see 'em!

We're leaving soon and I'm so sad about it. I need to do something enjoyable tonight to try to ward off post-vacay blues. That's the worst. Hrm, maybe I'll see SATC2? Who's seen it? And what do you do to unwind from vacay and get ready for the upcoming week?

Grocery Shopping with Sexy Asians

Hola from Southampton! We got in early yesterday afternoon and hit up the grocery store right away to stock up on food and beer. 

Here's Melissa and her older sis,  Michelle. I don't know about you, but I NEVER look this hottt when I'm grocery shopping!

As everything was being rung up, I started getting nervous about all of the frivolous things I threw into the cart. But, we really NEEDED those Swedish Fish and bags of Pirate's Booty!

Hey, not too bad divided between seven people! I plan to eat the groceries for pretty much every single meal, so the small amount of cash I allotted for the trip should last me! 

We got quite a workout loading the bags of groceries into the car. Tiff hooked us up with this Ford Flex!

So after we unpacked our groceries, we busted out the wine, which lead to this random video. Here's Jenn showing you how to keep your chips from going stale! haha 

I hope everyone's having a FABULOUS weekend so far! Tell me: What will you be eating this weekend? And what are your groceries essentials when you're on vacay?

Photo Shoot Friday: Small Bites, Big Flavors

Recently my boyfriend encouraged me to take more pictures so that I don't continue to have "throw away posts" for Photo Shoot Friday. (Umm, I think he was talking about last week!) So, I brought the camera out with us last Sunday for date night numero dos—yes, two in one weekend. (Date Night one was recapped here.) 

We went to Macondo, a Latin American tapas restaurant on the Lower East Side. I've only been there once before, maybe a year or so ago—I can't believe it took me so long to go back!

To me, atmosphere is almost as important as the food. I love the cool, low-key vibe. 

We started with plantains topped with shrimp in a red sauce. I looove plantains—it's miraculous that I just had this one bite. Willpower WHAT?!

For my main meal, I got the black bean stew and topped it with citrus, cheese and tomatoes. Interesting combo, huh? It was delish!

Hola mis amigos! 

I'm typically a fan of anything smeared in a creamy orange sauce, but these potatoes were only a'ight. I just had one so I could save room for this:

I had a couple bites of one short ribs slider and plenty of fries. Hold up, let's get a closer look...

Mmm. I love flavorful bite-sized dishes—you don't need much to feel totally satisfied! 

Sometimes I look back at what my boyfriend and I eat together and wonder if it's normal. Did we totally pig out or what? I really can't tell. And it's hard to know exactly how much you've eaten where you're having bites here and there. I've been doing a pretty good job of ordering what I want when I go out to eat, but not stuffing myself to the point of discomfort—that's the worst. Progress people, progress!

Ohh and what's everyone doing over the long weekend? I'm hopping in a car to go to Southampton as we speak! (Eek, I'm the one driving!) Our house has Wireless—WooHoo!—so I'll be updating the blog with our fun adventures over the weekend. Check back in, ya hear? Whatever you're doing, be safe and have tons of fun! MWAH!

So what about you: Do you eat more when you're dining out with certain people? I definitely eat the most when I'm with my bf—sometimes I forget that I really CAN'T match him bite for bite! 

Being a freelancer sucks when you um, aren't FREE

I cannot tell you how much it pains me to tell someone NO when I'm called for a job. After all, I'm the YES girl remember? When I was at jury duty the other week, I had to turn down a reporting gig for a website I would loooove to work for. I was super-bummed, but I have a pal at the company, so when they told me "Don't worry, we'll call you again," I believed it. 

But yesterday as I was walking to the park to lay out (I know, you hate me), I got a call from a 323 number. Who do I know in California? Worried it might be a salesperson from my gym calling me yet again from a different phone number, I let it go to voicemail. Then I listened to the message:

Hi Ellen, this is Steve. I'm a producer at A&E (Ok ok, interesting...) and I'm calling you about a new show we're working on (Right right...). You were very highly recommended to us (Umm, obvi), and I was wondering if you could assist our wardrobe stylist with an upcoming taping. (Please please PLEASE don't be this weekend!) So if you're free this Friday through Sunday, give me a call and...I didn't hear anything after that. 

(Ok, so this pic is random, but I totally think people should start paying their freelancers with Starbucks gift cards!) If you recall from this post, I'm going to be in Southampton over the weekend. If I could afford to lose that $300 deposit, I might have considered canceling (Oh ok, no I wouldn't have), but it just wasn't realistic at such short notice. Plus, this trip is like five years overdue! But seriously, how much does that SUCK?! I was especially excited for the opportunity because I didn't have any connections at this company, which showed me that somehow my name is floating around the big bad city, and that's pretty awesome. I called Steve back to thank him and to tell him to please keep me in mind for future jobs. (I'm positive I came across waaay too eager...and desperate.) He said he'd "keep me on file." (On file? Really?) FAIL. 

Freelancing is the best thing in the world when: 1.) You're getting called regularly for jobs. 2.) You're available to do those jobs. I can't help but to think that by saying "no," I will lose a potential employer forever. It's so frustrating! 

Tell me: What's the thing you like the least about your job? And does anyone have any exciting work-related news to share? I promise I won't get jealous! ;)

Which Sex and The City Character are YOU?

This week in NYC it's been all about Sex and the City 2! The premiere, the after parties, parties after the after parties, and sadly I haven't been to a single event. Not that I expected to, but I've felt like a loser lately reading my friends' SATC Facebook status updates over the last few days: Just spotted SJP at (insert swanky hotel here)! or In a limo on my way to the premiere! Hellllo friends, remember me? I'm a great wing woman in case you have forgotten? 

An.Y.way, here's a group pic from the premiere. Lookin' good, ladies! I don't know about you, but I'm happy to see that SJP doesn't have a plant growing out of her head like she did at the London premiere for the first movie. (I believe the Brits call those little hats fascinators?) Her asymmetrical lemon colored dress allows her to stand out just enough without screaming LOOK AT ME LOOK AT ME! 

So, if you had to guess, who do you think my favorite character is? I'll narrow it down for you...

Carrie has killer style and just an overall fabulous little Manhattan life (and she's a writer), but....

I'm SO Miranda! Are you surprised? She's funny, sarcastic, smart—LOVE her. I actually have a tank top that says, "I'm a Miranda!" I need to dig it up and rock it when I go to see the movie. Cheesy? Yes. Do I care? No. 

So tell me: Which SATC character are YOU and why? Are you excited for the movie? I've heard mixed reviews, but of course I'm going to see it anyway!

On-the-Fence Fashion

New trends are constantly coming out (er, or being recycled), and there's always a few I'm on the fence about. Like, I know they are totally approved by the Fashion Gods and that I'm supposed to like them, but sometimes I just don't quite get it. 

Trend #1: Cut-outs and shredding

Both Liza and Joyann are sporting this trend, but unfortunately you can't really see it. They look hottt in the pic though, which is why I decided to post it anyway. The shoulders on Liza's dress are cut out and the back of Joyann's dress looks something like this:

Ok, so I'm down with these looks—edgy, but subtle. (Photo: Cheap Monday tank from Shopbop.)

But this? No thank you. If this is in style, then I will gladly turn myself in to the Fashion Police right this second because I do not concur. I guess Amber Rose is still trying to help Kanye prove to the world that he likes girls instead of boys. Give it up, dude, no one believes you.

Trend #2: Clogs

To clog or not to clog? That's the recurring question every summer. MK Olsen looks like a bum most of time, but she knows her shit. (I looove her and Ashley's line Elizabeth and James!) Hrm...

I got an email the other day about these shoes, FitFlops. Apparently they are biochemically engineered to help sculpt your leg muscles, improve posture and reduce back pain—which I have from time to time. These could be worth trying—if I'm going to start cloggin', I suppose doing it with added health benefits is the way to go! 

 

Trend #3: Denim on Denim

I've been testing out this trend for a while now, and I'm still unsure about it. I always think it's cool when I first put it together, but looking back now...ICK! 

And this is what walked down the Louis Vuitton runway at Spring Fashion Week. I love the afro, but everything else confuses the hell out of me. Whyyyy?

So what are your thoughts on these three trends? What others are you on the fence about?

Bringing Sexy Back

Saturday my boyfriend and I planned a special date night because we hadn't seen each other in a week. It sucks when we're both that busy, but we always find a way to make it up to each other. So how do we bring the sexy back?

I wear high heels...

...and he takes me out to a nice sushi dinner. We went to Blue Ribbon in SoHo--it's one of my favorites! In addition to the usual suspects (california roll, tuna/salmon/egg/eel sushi pieces), we tried the Blue Ribbon roll.

It was pretty to look at (caviar, anyone?), but I didn't love it. Lobster doesn't have much flavor, and the shiso had an um, interesting taste. I don't know, maybe a sushi expert would have given it rave reviews, but it wasn't my cup of green tea!

My boyfriend and I went here on one of our first dates, so it was fun to recall that memory when we were still getting to know each other. (Actually, it's a bit of a blur--I drank waaaay too much in the beginning of our relationship!) He made a comment the other day about how I rarely wear heels anymore and I freaked. Nooo! I don't want to be THAT girl! So I put on high heels and gave myself a D.I.Y. mani. And I had planned to wear something a little sexier, but I didn't like anything in my closet, so I borrowed Liza's DVF jumper. It did the job.

**Ohh, I've got giveaway winner announcements! BerryFine won the Bumble and Bumble hair products and Mary Allen won Carmindy's Crazy Busy Beautiful book! Shoot me an email ladies with your mailing info! And I *pinky promise* I selected the winners at random. I gave everyone a number and had the bf pick 'em :) (Does anyone have any suggestions on a better way to do it??) An.Y.way...

So yeah, it doesn't take much for my bf and I to bring the sexy back into our relationship when things get a little crazy. High heels, sushi, vino and we're good! What about you: What special things do you (or have you done in the past) with your partner to keep the flame a burnin'? And how important do you think it is to fix up and make the effort to look good for each other?