13.4.08

The makeup doesn't match the hair

While at Reston Town Center, today, I made an observation: the mannequins and photos of women at Victoria's Secret sport JBF hair (I just heard the term recently and am humored) but their make-up is flawless. If you have "just been _______", and IF you did it right, your lipstick should be smudged. For that matter, if you REALLY did it well, all of your make-up has been rubbed off! I know that has been my experience more than once, most certainly recently.

Oh, and another observation: while fuzzy mules are cute in a photo op, they are probably not sensible in the bedroom (on kitchen counters, on picnic tables, or in a secluded meadow, for that matter!) Something with more traction would be more practical; perhaps cleats? Oh, I see a PhotoShop opportunity!

8.4.08

The road to happiness...

is paved with low expectations.

I recently received an email that got me thinking about a few things, so I wrote, among other things:

I apologize for my delayed response, but something you wrote got me thinking (uh oh): the idea of a "back-up plan". I think I know what you were referring to and I agree with the idea that it is unseemly, but then don't we rationalize our actions? I hope I don't sound like I am going off on a tangent, but the concept has actually been on my mind for a few days:

When people date, are they just sharing time together for mutual entertainment, preventing general boredom or moving toward a next step? The first two are easy, but what about that third? And, if that is the case, what is that next step or, for that matter, the ultimate step? And how do two people comfortably discuss any of it? For example, if one person is generally committement-minded (whatever that means) but the other is out for, say, physical encounters, is it good for both parties to know up front? And, even if both know up front, doesn't that put pressure on each participant? The next thought in all of this was: whomever wants less gets what they want. Whether it be a friendship, BF(boyfriend)/GF(girlfriend), husband/wife, boss/employee, etc. If one party, say GF, doesn't want the relationship, she gets what she wants [wins], but BF, who wants the relationship, loses.

I am the type who prefers to give something an undistracted chance to see if it would work or at least get to know the person. Sort of like ordering off a menu versus visiting a buffet: you get what you get; if you don't like it, you order something else next time; no back-ups ie return trips to the heated, steam table. But I am finding, apparently like you, that many want that insurance policy against being alone. So, in trying to not be alone, they don't get close to any individual and possibly end up MORE alone, eventually.

I have been on "the site" off (mostly) and on for about a year. The simple answer to "success" would be no, since I here currently. But I have met some interesting and some less-than-interesting people. Oh, here's another tangent/thought process: I have heard that sites, like this, work better for women than men. For example, on average, I would say that I get about three/four winks per day and about one email per day. This affords me the opportunity to pick and choose (but I still feel a bit badly because these are human beings and not just pixels on the screen!). But, if guys get much fewer or only a few responses, are they just taking what they can get? Personally, I would want to be wanted for ME, not just because no one else came along. (and if you are wondering how it is that I have the time to type all of this to you and if I write back to everyone, the answer is no; I respond to very few; you just asked the right questions! Plus, this, as I said, has been on my mind a lot lately. AND I type very fast.)

So, all that said, what DO I want? I am not speaking of anyone specifically, except for ME: I want my ultimate best friend, I want someone I can be stupid with, smart with, silly with, serious with; I want someone to know everything about me and still love me; I want to get that excited thrill when I see him (sorry ladies, I do have a preference for males); I want to feel like he wants me more than any other option that could present itself; I want open and free communication; I want someone to like my girly-girl side AND my independant, do-it-myself side; I want someone to do everything/nothing with; I want someone who I can sit next to and read a book or whom I can look at, wink, smile, then ravage him; I want someone to sit next to me in the car on long trips, whether he drives or I drive; I want someone to feel like he is such a lucky guy to have found me because, if he is that guy above, I am lucky that I found him too.

Wow, I am drained! That was about as sappy as I go (at least in a blog!).

4.4.08

$55 for three buttons???

...or $40 for two. Crazy? I think so. But these buttons have "Chanel" emblazened on them! Right? (Who cares!)

So, I am scanning ebay, looking for some great vintage Chanel jacket that looks oh so 1940s and I find these. The two pictured lower left are $80!! Not that I would ever buy any of these buttons, but I had to laugh at the prices.

Heck, what am I ranting about? The other day, I was telling Alex (who more than understands expensive tastes!) that I KNOW I have expensive tastes (she agrees and appreciates). I can scan a list of 100 photos of, say, shoes, and manage to LIKE the 10 most expensive, even if the prices aren't listed. The problem with this is that I am quite the bargain hunter. And therein lies the dilemma: how do I GET these fabulous, let's say, shoes, but for a great price? Some may get frustrated and give up, but I view it as a challenge. I am the woman who got a pair of $400 NEW Prada pumps for a mere $71 on ebay!

Now, the question is: how do I get this $499 (a bargain in itself, probably) Chanel blue silk dress for MUCH less? I'll let you know if it happens. What? I don't NEED another cocktail dress? Sure I do! Get the dress and the occassion will happen (with an extra trip to the gym per week!). Lord knows: I already have the shoes!

Right now, I am on an Anne Klein and Ann Taylor kick, so got the three pair, above (J is going to have a heart attack after his fit!).


I also picked up a pair of fun, red silk open toe pumps that remind me of 40s pin-ups (to whom I was recently compared-I am flattered!) I have no clue what I would wear with them. But my favorite find is a pair of tan suede D'orsay pumps by Kate Spade.

2.4.08

The fridge is in the middle of the kitchen

along with the stove...again. I can't wait to get this done!

I picked up the cork flooring today and started installation. Right now, it is 10:12 (2212 to some) so, I think it is a tad late to keep running the table saw; I'll give it a rest, for now.

The color I chose has warmer tones than the granite. But, if I get the clearcoat tinted slightly, I will be able to get them pretty close. Doesn't this cork look great with the granite?

I am going to have to build, from scratch, the flush floor register because you can only get them for 3/4" thick floors and this is only 1/2" thick. See? I really can't do anything the easy way; sometimes, easy just is not an option!