For Jenna

Hi babes and studs!  I loved reading your responses to Olive Oil Day 2009.  Seriously, at least once on a vacation, you have to go balls to the wall, ya know?  I was all prepared to write a post about a romantic evening in Roma con mi amore, but I want to take a break from Italy recaps to address a more timely issue. 

If you are a reader of Jenna’s blog, Eat, Live, Run, you will see that she posted yesterday about purchasing some fabby clothes amidst all the summer sales in anticipation for her interview next weekend in wine country with Murphy Goode.  She also asked everyone, especially me, for a little style advice.  Here you go lady!

Jenna’s interview will be several days long and will take place in wine country along with the 9 other finalists.  They will be showcasing their personalities and gusto for the folks at Murphy Goode, each hoping they have the “panache” that will land them the dream job of Murphy Goode’s wine ambassador for six whole months!  We all know Jenna is gorgeous, intelligent, fun, and down-to-earth.  One way for Jenna to showcase her amazing personality to the Murphy Goode peeps is by really standing out with her clothes.  Jenna already has a great sense of style- she loves shopping at Anthropologie and JCrew.  She understands that a good fit is they key to making clothes look flawless.  I do, however, have a few recommendations that I think everyone, even the well-dressed, could benefit from when it comes to dressing to impress.  Here are my tips for looking your most classy and exhuberant, which would apply to meeting the parents, going to an interview, or showing up your boyf’s trampy ex. 

Dressing to Conquer- Tips from Your LBD Girl

1.  Each day, don one extraordinary piece that could easily be the focal point of a discussion.  If you are wearing a blouse, khakis, flats, and simple stud earrings, you will look pulled together.  If you add a brightly colored scarf to the mix, you have insta personality and aconversation piece.  Even if people don’t directly comment on it, trust me, they notice.  They will remember you as being the girl with the interesting and fabulous wardrobe components.  Bonus points for pieces with an interesting provenance like, “Oh thanks, I got in when I went on safari” or, “I love it too- it was my great great grandmother’s.” Tie you well-made, perfectly fitted clothes all together with some seriously standout accessories to elevate your look from “good” to “eye-catching.” 

Carrie basically invented this rule. Perhaps without the ciggie though.

Nikki punches it up in Pucci.

Why be boring when you can be fabulous?

2.  “Never settle for anything less than butterflies”- when it comes to shoes.  Uh, SATC is LIFE isn’t it?  I am a big fan of hating on mediocrity in all its forms, but I most especially eschew mediocre shoes.  What is a mediocre shoe?  It is a shoe that doesn’t make you feel more fabulous, sexy, and pulled-together than you felt before you put it on.  In fact, mediocre shoes don’t just fail to contribute to your look, they hurt your look.  Examples of mediocre shoes:

Flip flops are for the beach, or wading through puddles of PBR in a dirty frat house.

Anything marketed as "comfortable." Just walk away.

I could go on, but I would fall asleep just thinking about the dowdiness.  Shoes are a chance to add some Kimora-Lee Simmons-esque girl-power fabulosity to your look without actually looking like Kimora Lee Simmons.

Cause that might be a little much.

Experiment with embellishments, metallics (Jenna, def. bring those fabby gold Steve Madden sandals!), and brights for day.

LC wears some great shelled sandals to spruce up her dress.

Reese pull her look together with some bright red flats.

JLo don't do mediocre footwear. Uh-UHH.

At night, walk the line between flirty and appropriate.  I would not recommend the all-out hooker shoes I tend to wear when going out with the girls, but would encourage heels with a sleek design that perfectly keep your tootsies looking fiiiine.  Some reasonable  options might include peeptoes, strappy-but-not-bare-shoes, or high-quality nude pumps.

LC tones down some teeny shorts with proper looking peeptoes.

Perfection.

These little babies definitely have sauce, but the t-strap and mid-height heel keep it kosher.

3.  Carry the most regal, wordly, and expensive  leather bag you can get your hands on.  I know this sounds ridiculous, but I swear it works.  Remember that leather is an important component- no other material looks more polished.  Any woman will instantly look pulled-together and more important with a handbag that oozes good taste and high quality.  I’m certainly not saying go out and buy one.  But if you have a fantastic Coach you keep for special occassions, now is the time to use it!  Otherwise, ask relatives and friends if you can borrow their Hogans, Balenciagas, or Chloes for your important event.  I swear, you’ll excude class and bus-NASS.

Exhibit A: Actually, I can't stand this woman, but her look perfectly illustrates my point: boring shirt, boring jeans. Add an incredibly fancy handbag? POW!

Exhibit B: A fancy bag even helps fish an Olsen twin out of the depths of homeless bag lady syndrome!

But please, please, stay away from trashy “Logo bags.”  It just screams “princess,” and no one wants a princess working for them.

Exhibit C: Exactly.

4.  The finishing touches are everything.  Perfectly polished nails (Jenna, I love the bright reds you sometimes wear!), a fresh trim, a new fragrance, or a fun lipstick will give you that extra boost of confidence you might need when the pressure it ON.  When I know I have something big happening, I always make sure to wear my favorite undergarments and exfoliate every inch of my skin with grainy scrub.  Whatever it takes- an at-home facial, a fake bake, whatever, do what YOU need to do to feel your best! 

Girl you are worth it!

Now onto a less sarcastic portion of the post, I had a thought this morning that I turned into a reality.  I have been following Jenna since her very first post, and I have always been so inspired by her enthusiasm for healthy living and drive to share her dreams with the world.  Over the past year and a half, I have so appreciated her willingness to put herself out there for us.  She has shared not only her joys, but her sorrows, her hopes, her insecurities, and her struggles.  Through that I have felt like I not only gaining a healthier perspective on diet and exercise; I felt like I was gaining a friend.  Jenna has been through so much in 2009, primarily, losing her baby brother to a horrible accident.  Through the entire nightmare, she shared every bit of fear, anger, and emotion with us, and I know that took a lot of courage.  She also used her brother’s wonderful hunger for life to refuse to give up.  She quit her job and has been pursuing her dreams full-force ever since.  I know that Jenna is by far the best candidate for the job at Murphy Goode.  She would do more for the company than they could even begin to imagine.  But more importantly, I know that this experience is just what Jenna needs to continue to live life to its fullest after her brother’s parting.

More than anything, after all Jenna has done for me, I wished there was something I could do to help her.  So I wrote the following letter to the folks at Murphy Goode:

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am a regular reader of Jenna Weber’s blog “Eat Live Run,” and I wanted to write today to strongly support her candidacy and encourage you to choose her as your Wine Ambassador.  Jenna’s blog is a healthy living blog, yes, but it is also a lifestyle blog, which is why I think so many people relate to her.  She celebrates food, drink, family, and friends the way only a oenophile could- with passion, gusto, and energy.  She loves living “the good life,” and knows how to enjoy it while not being hedonistic.  Jenna has already demonstrated her commitment to good food by graduating from Le Cordon Bleu.  You can see that each meal she eats is thrilling to her, from a vegetable smoothie to a plate of buttery snails.  She employs the same approach to her wine- treating it like a celebration, even if it’s just a Wednesday.  This is the sort of ambassador that would perfectly relay the beauty of Murphy Goode wines to the world.

I am a young professional female living in Washington DC whose adult tastes are developing.  I have always wanted to learn more about wine, but am often daunted by wine books and stuffy commentaries by “older people” who I think take some of the fun out of it.  Jenna’s down-to-earth approach to relating to her readers would be the optimal way to approach your target audience about wine.  She is always informative and interesting, but she couches it with optimism and energy that is contagious.

Thank you for your consideration, and once again, I urge you to pick Jenna Weber for A Really Goode Job.

Sincerely,
http://mealsfromthegirlinthelittleblackdress.wordpress.com

The Challenge:

I want to urge you all to write a letter to the folks at Murphy Goode to express our united blog world’s enthusiasm for her candidacy to be the Wine Ambassador.  Jenna is a ray of sunshine in a very disordered health world.  Let’s contribute any way we can so her rays extend even farther!

How to Do It:

1.  Address your email to webmaster@areallygoodejob.com.

2.  In the text of your email, express your support for Jenna!  If you would prefer, use the sample text below:

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to express my strong enthiasm for Jenna Weber of Eatliverun.com in her running to become the Wine Ambassador for Murphy Goode.  I am a follower of her blog, and daily read her musings on food, health, wine, and life.  I am particularly fond of her (list quality/ies you like a bout Jenna here).  Her writing is inspirational, her reach is far, and her message is one that Murphy Goode will greatly benefit from.  Please entrust Jenna Weber with A Very Goode Job- her many readers will stand behing and follow her Murphy Goode experience, and her new acquaintences are sure to be just as inspired by her vibrant spirit.

Sincerely,
(Put your name here.  It also might be helpful to include a link to your blog so they can see just how “big” our little blogging community is!)

3.  Leave a comment here to let me know you sent the email.  I think keeping track of numbers will help us in our endeavor!

 

I hope you enjoyed my silly advice for looking like a power girl, and that you will be as inspired as I am to advocate for Jenna so she will nail this Murphy Goode job.  Thanks for reading, and I will be back with more ridiculous stories from Roma!!

Participating in Day Drinking, When in Rome

Hello hello!  Sorry to have gone MIA yesterday- catching up with stuff at work and at home is always hectic isn’t it?  That and I forewent blogging last night to watch Prep.  Which I hate, and I am so glad Entertainment Weekly agrees with me.   And it’s not like I haven’t tried, people.  I mean, no one, NO ONE loves trashy teenage stuff more than I do.  Gossip Girl a serious part of my life, and I consider Jawbreakers to be a classic film.  But this show sucks.  My heroes over at the Daily Intel exlpain it oh-so-eloquently here. 

Bitch, you bore me.

Uh.  So anyway, in attempt to get some sleep this evening, I am going to foego my normal recap of fun things like peanut butter, humor, and apples to being you more of our trip to Italy.  You can read the first recap here if you missed it.

When I left off, I was discussing the joys of enjoying the art of Rome with my new family.  One particularly exciting day (though they all were amazing) was on Friday when we went to the Vatican Museums.  We woke up super early so we could get to the Vatican at 8am when it opened.  We all made sure to dress appropriately, which was a good thing because these signs are very intimidating. 

It should be noted that even the Vatican runs on Italian time, which means obscenely late. The doors didn't open until 8:40! Benedict XVI likes to play it cool...

Of course, everything we saw was absolutely breathtaking, particularly the Sistine Chapel, duh.  Sorry, no pictures were allowed in there .  But immediately after viewing the world’s most important frescoes, Michelle and Mike made a new friend…

Fido was surrounded by many of is brethren here in the Hall of Animals.

And I enjoyed getting to know St. Helena in the Pinacoteca.

Mike is really awful at taking pictures, isn't he?

Mike didn’t even mind my marveling at all the nude statues. 

The famous Belvedere torso

Oh yeah, I completely forgot to tell you- I hardly have any FOOD PHOTOS!  Don’t hate me!  My future MIL doesn’t know about the blog so it would have been beyond awkward.  Please forgive?

Anyway, at one point, we took a break and had a snackie in the Vatican’s self service cafeteria.  I decided that I really wanted a dolce, which is Italian for a sweet biscuit type thing.  I got a sweet bread filled with a chocolate almond filling covered in a sugary glaze.  It was to die for.  We were all hungry, and still had several gallieries to get through before we would be ready to leave for lunch, so this little treat filled me up nicely with lots of satiating fat and yummy sugar. 

Again, I apologize for the Google images.

We enjoyed seeing everything else.  I went gaga over some rare early translations of the epistles of Paul…

I have done some graduate work in illuminated manuscripts, so these got me randy

and the beautiful hall of Barberini tapestries. 

Dork

By the time we had seen everything, we were famished and it was time for lunch.  And what a lunch we had.  We chose a restaurant near St. Peter’s called Graziella e Alberto da Spinsi a S. Pietro.  We should have known we were in for an experience like no other when we took a look at the decor.

Awkward

Awkwarder

Awkwardest

Graziella herself came to greet us- sweating like a chimney, in a grease-stained undershirt type thing, with a booming voice and a jolly disposition.  Immediately before we even opened the menu, she offered to bring us a Caprese salad.  Ok.

Ours was much bigger and much more green.

It was huge.  It was a moutain of lettuce, beautiful chunks of tomato, fresh balls of mozzerella, and sprigs of pungent basil dressed with olive oil, salt and pepper.  We totally dug in.  The mozzerella cheese was literally the best I have ever had- it wasn’t tangy like those fresh mozzerella balls you buy in deli containers, but instead it had this creamy texture that tasted sweet at first then exploded savory, salty flavors.  The best part was, by the time we got to the bottom of the plate and there was just lettuce left, we saw that the remaining greens were literally swimming in a several centimeter deep pool of oil.  Aah Italy. 

Next Senora brought out several plates of bruschetta.  Now, contrary to popular belief (especially in Italian American Northern New Jersey), bruschetta is not defined as Italian bread with a tomato topping.  Traditional bruschetta is simply rounds of Italian bread rubbed with garlic, evoo, salt, and pepper and toasted.  And when it is done right, Lordy is it good.

Carb and fat heaven

Graziella clearly knew what she was doing- the “flesh” of the bred had a slight green tint to it, and when you bit into each crostini, the oil and salt would flood each part of the bread.  It was so delicious I didn’t even once worry about my hips.  I had like four pieces.  When we were 3/4 of the way through with the first plate, Graziella had one of her peons waiters bring us an even bigger platter of bruschetta, and she hollered to us from the kitched, “Mangia!  Mangia!”

We were already full by the time our actual meal came, which consisted of a small pizza, a side of white beans, and carciofi all romana or artichokes Roman style.  Carciofi all romana basically is a marinated artichoke that is salty and tangy at the same time.  Graziella used tiny Jerusalem artichokes, so we were able to eat the entire thing, stem included!  There were three little ones in our serving, so we each enjoyed one.

Carciofo alla romana

Our white beans, or fagioli, were perfectly cooked, drizzled in olive oil, and seasoned with oregano, basil, parsley, s and p.  They were clearly made from dried beans and had a chewiness that went perfectly with our crusty bruschetta.

Again, swimming in olive oil.

Aah, the pizza.  Mike chose it, and it was simply the traditional thin crust Italian pizza with marinara, a little mozzerella, and a light sprinkling of Gorgonzola.  Their crust was the best we had all trip- crusty and crunchy but with a little fluff and body.  Michelle and I each had a tiny sliver and let Mike have the rest, which he loved.  Biting into that pizza and tasting the combination of the fresh bread, savory tomatoes and intense cheese was so amazing.

Gorgonzola pizza

A couple times throughout our meal, we desperately needed our drinks refilled, and we would turn to Senora, who was taking a rest at the table next to us and ask her politely if our drinks could be refilled.  She always responded with a booming “Certamente!” which means “of course.”  Then she would wait for another 5 or so minutes before asking one of her servants waiters to get us drinks.  It was hilarious!  We were clearly guests in Graziella’s house and she was in charge of the timing. 

Post pizza and other nummies, we were completely stuffed and shocked that we ate so much!  Seriously, I think the second our Mt. Everest-sized caprese salad arrived at the table, we knew we were in for a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and mentally prepared ourselves to mangia mangia, even if we got “too” full.  Cappucinos were most definitely in order, and the warm liquid felt so perfect in my full tummy.

Such a vacation treat

But no, Graziella was not done with us.  She approached our table and announced, “I bring you dolce,” and when we started to protest, she turned on her heels and returned to the kitchen, only to reappear with a huge piece of tiramisu.

It actually looked a lot like this

None of us are huge tiramisu fans, but we were stuck, and knew we had to try it.  It was honestly the best tiramisu I have ever had!  It was a lot less “coffee”like and was much softer and fluffier than the types I have had at home.  Think less like a sponge and more like a pie.  Loved it.

Ok, it was time for the check, or so we thought.  Until Alberto, Graziella’s shadowy figure of a husband, shows up at our table with a bottle of limoncello and three shot glasses and says “Non costa!  Non costa!”  (No charge.)  My handsome stud of a fiance, asked him in Italian (he is fluent- I know, drool, what a dreamboat!) to join us for the shot, but Alberto pointed at his watch and returned to the kitchen.  Graziella don’t let her peeps mess around on her dime, yo.

We each looked at each other, overindulged beyond belief, but decided “When in Rome.” 

Whilst Michelle was pouring, we discovered that the bottle had expired in 2006. Whoops!

The wet spot on my chest is from getting oil all over my shirt, because clearly you can't take me anywhere.

When in Rome indeed.  My shot went straight to my head and that was that.

The best part was when the check came.  I won’t tell you how much it was, but I will tell you that it cost more than any other meal we had the entire trip.  We were utterly shocked at the cost- and none of us are cheap people IN THE LEAST so you know it was bad.  Michelle called over to Graziella just to make sure the triple digit figure was correct and without prodding, Graziella began rattling off each and every item we had.  Bitch knows how to run her business! 

I would rather fight all of the Real Housewives of NJ at once rather than mess with this badass superwoman.

Of course, they didn’t take credit cards, so we all pooled our cash together to make sure we left an excellent tip.  Best several hundred dollar lunch eva.

Look how tired. You can tell Graziella had her way with them.

Sersiouly, we tried walking around for about an hour after this meal, but we were done.  For the first time on the vacation, we headed to our hotel for an afternoon siesta in order to prepare our tums for din. 

This was our favorite meal all trip.  What a perfect Roman experience.  The bossy Italian matriarch, the ridiculous decor, the overabundance of food, the totally unneccessary limoncello.  What a wonderful celebration of life! 

More on that coming up.

Here's a hint!

Hope you are enjoying hearing about our adventures!

La Dolce Vita

Hi everyone- I am so grateful to have felt refreshed and productive today.  It’s amazing what a manicure and a good night’s sleep will do for one’s body.  I can’t believe what a baby I am- I swear, if I don’t get 8 hours of sleep, several gallons of water, 3 meals, and 2 snacks each day I completely fall apart.  Woss.

My afternoon went well, but it was hard not to catch up on all your blogs at work.  I just love seeing what you hotties are up to.  I stopped at about 3:30 for a snickety snack.

Notice the absence of bars.  I literally had 3 bars on Sunday including one of Mike’s frightening Detour Bars that actually contain both cream and butter, and I was ready to abandon for a couple of days.  Peanut butter does a body good.

Dinner was a celebration.  I cooked up some brown rice and roasted a huge tray of veggies with tons of garlic, evoo, and salt.  I made a bed of the rice that I seasoned with a little of this and that, plopped down a sh**load of veggies straight from the 450 degree oven, and then added 2 lite Laughing Cows.

I eventually mixed everything up and each bite was a flavor explosion!  the comforting rice mixed so well with the hot, garlicky veggies, and the rich and creamy cheese just melded it all together.  I lerrved it.

This left me feeling so well-nourished.  It’s funny, this dinner is so much less in volume than some of my normal dinners, but so much more satisfying.  Normally when I finish a raw-veggie laden meal, I “feel” full but I am not full.  It is like my body knows it’s only had x calories in the form of veggies, and even though volume-wise it was a lot, not getting the right mix of protein and fat can be unsatisfying.  So happy tummy tonight?  Check.

I topped off that lovely feeling with this whole fruit organic strawberry bar from WF- the perfect sweet ending to my yummy meal.

Speaking  of dessert, let’s talk about my trip to Italy, shall we?  To giveyou a general idea, each day we would wake up at a nice early hour. I would have a bar of some type (usually a Clif), a packet of Amazing Grass Superfood in Chocolate dissolved in some water, and a piece of fruit at the hotel.  Then we would get Diet Cokes and venture out in Rome- it was simply too hot for coffee or tea!  Here’s our stash of yummies I packed for the trip including various teas (unused), vitamins and medicines, bars for both him and her, and Stevia.

We spent most of the days just walking and walking and walking- everywhere.  Every square foot of Rome is covered in important historic monuments, works of art, or fabulous sights.  We didn’t want to miss a thing, so we chose to tour via foot instead or taking the metro or a cab. 

Here I am in front of the Lateran- so excited to be there!

As some of your know, I am essentially a curator, and I will be totally pompous and say that I know a lot about art.  I worked my butt off in college to understand art’s inception thousands of years ago, to grasp its evolution into the modern age, and to acquire  the historical, religious, psychological, and political knowledge neccessary to explain art’s physical manifestation of mankind in its contemporary time and place.  I have been lucky enough to be able to travel a great deal in my life, and have passionately pursued studying art in both personal and professional endeavors.  As such, even though I had never been to Rome, I felt like I was coming home.  I was finally able physically experience the momentous works that have inspired my life pursuits. 

Perfect Corinthian capitols at the Pantheon

 

Old Testament mosaic cycles at Santa Maria Maggiore

Laocoon and his sons, my very favorite sculpture of all time

Base of the column of Antonius Pius

Bernini angels on the bridge to Castel S. Angelo

Mt. Parnassus by Raphael in the Papal apartments of the Vatican

Deposition by Michelangelo and Caravaggio

Michelangelo's spellbinding columnade surrounding the piazza of Saint Peters

Apoxymenos aka the Sweat Scraper

Touring the city with Michelle (my future mother-in-law) and Mike was so wonderful.  Although both extremely intelligent and well-educated, neither is incredibly well-versed in art history.  They were so amenable to listening to my explanations of all the various monuments, paintings, and buildings.  They asked questions and really learned a lot!  It was so much fun to be able to help my new family get to know not only a part of me, but an entirely new level of understanding human history.

Here we are inside the colosseum, sitting on some two thousand year old ruins!

I hope your enjoyed hearing about the trip thus far- in my next post I’ll have a few more fun pictures and get into the nitty gritty of the FOOD!

Back and Ready for More Shenanigans

Divas!  I am back from Italy and was so excited to read all of your comments- thank you so much for your wonderful feedback on my fashion posts!  I must admit, they were an absolute BLAST to write and I am so thrilled you didn’t mind reading about my self-righteous views on aesthetics, and didn’t mind the occasional shot at Jersey trash.  Love it.  You guys are the best!  After the wonderful experience I had preparing those posts and reading your wonderful responses, you can bet this girl is going to keep up the fun fashion commentary. 

It should come as no surprise to you that she is my idol.

Rome was absolutely amazing.  For 4 whole days and nights, I was totally engrossed in enjoying the vity with my new family.  We ate, we drank, we walked, and we explored.  It was so fabulous you wouldn’t believe.  The entire flight home, I tried figuring out the best way to try to recap it without having to stay up all night this week.  I’ve decided I’ll do little pieces with each daily post, and hope that’s amenable to you!  So for now, here’s just a couple of my photos and I will have more food-related and trip commentary as the week progresses.

 

I will however, fast forward to last night and tell you that by the time I went to bed, I had officially been awake for 24 hours!!  Mike and I woke up at 3:00am on Sunday morning Rome time, which is 9:00pm Saturday night East Coast time and it is now 9:00 on Sunday night and we are safely back home.  Needless to say, I feel like a total and complete mess.  Due to the anorexia, my electrolytes and blood sugar are completely out of whack and I get dehydrated and depleted incredibly easily.  Otherwise, I am just a very sensitive person and require lots of sleep and frequent meals to function, and neither of the above ocurred yesterday.

Ew.  I also certainly didn’t plan well for today’s 20 hour travelling time and endeed up having to eat some pretty nasty things on the plane that I decided not to photograph for the sake of your respect. I’ll just say that there were cold cuts and potato chips involved.  Grrrooosss.

By the time we got home, I was a total mess.  My glands were swollen, my hormones were totally out of whack, my skin was so dry that it was itching EVERYWHERE, I was completely dehydrated and therefore swollen all over – esp. my hands and feet, I was totally bloated and (ew) having digestion issues, and felt basically disgusting.  So I took several steps to remedy my situation and am feeling much much better:

1.  My hands and feet were a disgrace, so I did something I absolutely never do and went and got a manicure and pedicure.  Worked like a charm- my extremities are hydrated, I don’t have to do them myself, and I felt totally relaxed.

2.  I made myself a cleansing dinner of a Hugh Jass and some fruit.

With a healthy scoop of hummus and some lite parmesan dressing. There was no yogurt in that bowl, just a mango and a mini nectarine.

3.  I exfoliated the sh** out of my body first using a body brush, then an exfoliating scrub.  Then after my shower I slathered on cocoa butter lotion and put on my most comfy cotton jammies.

4.  I took some Tylenol, indulged in a Diet Vitamin Water, and have been sipping water ever since.

5.  I  got my ass in bed.  Aftre a restul 8.5 hours, I woke up feeling amazing!  Since my life has been a white carb cloud for the last week, I knew my breakfast needed some serious protein and fiber, and I also had to add my new best friend fat (more about that in a future post), so I had an awesome brekkie of 1/4c. Fage, 1/2c. Fiber One, a banana (oh how I have missed thee!), and a packet of Justin’s Organic peanut butter, sprinkled with lots of cinn.  This was so incredibly delicious and kept me satisfied for 4 whole hours!!

My morning snack was some yummy frozen grapes.  I had never really done this before, but I love how fun they are to eat- first you have to suck on them a little, then once they defrost a little they have a perfect texture. 

Lunch is a manifestation for my craving of fresh veggies in this Hugh Jass.  Believe it or not, that is only part of it- it wouldn’t fit on my plate so I had a second piatti as well!  There is a hunk of tofu chopped up in there, all accompanied by an Ezek English Muffin and a fresh peach.

Today I am wearing on of my very favorite necklaces.

I got it at this awful place we called “Dirty Larry’s” in college the weekend before my senior year started.  The girls and I all went there to get odds and ends for our new apartments or houses (you could buy an icky bed there for like fifty bucks) and I decided it would be wise to invest 50 cents in this little number.  I wore it regularly throughout senior year much to the dismay of my sorority sisters, and continue to wear it all the time now!  I just love it.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am so very happy to be back and can’t wait to start working on recaps of Roma for you.  Hope your Mondays are going well!

My American Style Icons

Happy 4th of July divas!  Hope your weeks are going well and that you have been enjoying my fashion-related posts.  At this point, I am on the last leg of my trip- Mike and I will leave early tomorrow morning (Sunday) and be back home in Washington for the afternoon.  

 

I wanted to find a way to celebrate this great national holiday on the blog.  I have spent the week looking at the amazing beauty that Rome has to offer.  I have been relishing ancient architecture, Baroque buildings, early Christian sarcophagi, and Byzantine mosaics conceived by the greatest thinkers in the history of the world.  Europe is so different from American in its age- you’ve never really seen an old building until you’ve seen one that is hundreds of years old.  But I would argue that America’s style aesthetic has taken on its own important art form.  I touched on the optimistic energy I believe is specifically American in this post.  For my post today, I would like to recognize and applaud some of the women that I believe are shaping my own optimism today.  Their unique  personalities shine through in their style- not just what clothes they wear, but how they wear them completely fearlessly.  These women haven’t been brainwashed by Rachel Zoe to wear ginormous sunglasses and floppy hats.  Instead, they have genuinely chosen looks that match their bodies, their interests, and their lives.  I get so much inspiration from the following women, and hope you enjoy rejoicing in their healthy sense of fashion and sense of self as much as I enjoyed writing about them!

 

 

 

LBD Style Icons

 

Kim Kardashian:  Dresses are my very favorite thing to wear, and I don’t think anyone looks better in a dress than Kim Kardashian.  She has made dressing for your body type an art form.  She knows how to flaunt her unworldly figure, and can look completely sexy or downright demure depending on the cut.

In DVF

In Monte Carlo

In Herve Leger

Reese Witherspoon: a true Southern girl at heart, she always looks like a lady.  Whether she is in jeans or a minidress, she knows how to highlight her beautiful legs or womanly shoulders while still leaving something to the imagination.

Classic looks dominate her wardrobe

She never looks "stuffed" into her clothes, like some other actresses.

Hilary Duff:  This beautiful girl effortlessly moves from casual jeans to a ball gown without missing a beat.  Whether going out for coffee or a gala, she knows how to show off her amazing (and now healthy!) figure and incorporates just the right amount of accessories to always look incredibly pulled together and glamorous.

Looking leggy in Rich & Skinny brand jeans

Sweet with an edge in a Chlor blouse, Herve Leger skirt, and Manolos

A breathtaking vision in Michael Kors. Note her strategic use of minimal accessories- her beauty is the focus of the look!

 Rihanna:  Girlfriend is young, fearless and gorgeous and isn’t afraid to push the envelope just a little in her unique, always sexy looks.  She just oozes girl power!

PVC leggings? Yes please!

She's naughty but she's gorgeous!

Catherine Zeta Jones:  I will be the first to admit I am biased due to my undeniable girl crush on this siren.  She is so otherwordly beautiful that it is truly impossible to even compare her to any other woman.  However, I think her looks illustrate one of my very favorite rules of fashion:  YOU wear the dress, the dress doesn’t wear you.  In everything she wears, her incredibly beauty radiates through.  She never looks “styled” or “done up.”  She was just born wearing a designer gown and heels.  Sigh.

My very favorite CZJ look from years and years ago- a skintight Ungaro slip dress iwth a fuzzy Fendi.

This dress could probably be a paper bag and she would look just as good, but she definitely owns her beauty.

Jennifer Lopez:  This one might come as a little surprise since I may not appear to be the “Jenny from the block” type in my peep-toe pumps and pearls.  But I love J.Lo’s gutsiness and willingness to be different.  She has done the perfect job incorporating her Bronx vibe into high-end designer items.  She has made ghetto fabulous truly fabulous, and I do believe the street style she introduced to fashion years ago has allowed for more experimentation and diversity that we have today.

Giving jeans dressed-up attitude

Channeling Jackie O, Bronx style

The infamous Versace dress

Leighton Meester:  The epitome of fresh young Hollywood, I would describe her style as purely “gracious.”  She is aware of the amazing raw material God gave her and is smart enough to share it with us in fun dresses and playful skirts.   She’s not afraid to BE young and experiment, yet knows how to respect her naturally beautiful look with distracting styles.  Plus she is Blair Waldorf, my idol.

It's hard to look hot in hightops, but she does it

She knows better than to hide her figure- in Giambattista Valli.

Dressing for Work

I often comment that I love my job.  I am so incredibly lucky to work for a prestigious non-profit and to have some excellent responsibilities.  However, my career wasn’t placed on my lap.  When I graduated from college, I was at the bottom of the barrel- a bottom-tier assistant.  I worked 60 hour weeks for basically no pay (I ate, like, Ramen for dinner every night), I was treated with little respect, and had to endure a two hour commute each way since I couldn’t afford to live in a near suburb of Washington, much less on the Metro.  On top of the fact that I hated my job, all I wanted to do was return to the comfort of my sorority sisters at my beautiful alma mater instead of facing paying rent, making copies, and answering the phone. 

One of the huge obstacles I faced was how to transition from my Rainbow flip-flops, Polo shirt with collar flipped up, and offensively short miniskirt to a professional woman’s wardrobe.  Not only did I not want to let go of my college persona, but I was completely broke and had no idea how to make a wardrobe out of nothing.  I had tons of misses in my first year out of college, appearance-wise.

Including tanorexia

And continuing to drink Natty Lite and eat bar food like it was college

I slowly learned how to navigate office politics, saw the benefit in completing mundane assistant-type tasks, and began striving to rise above my horrible job.  One of the things that gave me great confidence to do this was developing my own sense of professional style on my meager salary.  Showing up to work every day looking like I was destined to do great things inspired me to constantly strive for more.  Today, I have a prestigious position doing work that I never dreamed I would be doing three years out of college.  I show up to work every day in an outfit that makes me look as serious about my job as I truly am.  I have learned a lot on my career journey thus far (and still have lots to learn), and thought I would share with you some of the wardrobe tips that really helped me grow:

1.  This is one you’ve heard before, but I cannot stress it enough:  Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.  I don’t care if your job is to scrape the dirt off of your boss’ shoe.  Do it well, and do it looking like a million dollars.  Who cares if everyone else at your office dresses down?  You want to stand out for your intelligence, inventive ideas, and youthful energy.  If your most difficult task of the day is making copies, it can be difficult to emanate your potential, so allow your appearance to relay your upward mobility.

I’ll never forget the one day I decided to dress down for work a few months ago.  I was feeling totally bloated, tired, and lazy, and it was Friday so I rolled up to work in a turtleneck, a sweater, skinny jeans, and flats.  I looked awful, and my dowdy outfit certainly wasn’t making me feel any better.  Well, of course on this particular day at the last minute,  I was invited to attend a tea with a very well-known donor, but my boss and I knew I couldn’t show up in my sloppy ensemble, so I had to pass.  It sucked.  I could have made a great contact and learned a lot, but my laziness prevented me from taking advantage of a great opportunity.  You can bet that I haven’t dressed down (except when I am doing actual conservation work) for the office since.  Monday through Friday, I feel presentable to anyone that may walk in my door.

I got this little diddy for $25 at TJ Maxx!

2.  Keep your apparel in impeccable shape.  This is another that should be a no-brainer, but you have no idea how often I don’t see people conforming to their clothes’ needs.  Nothing looks more unprofessional or sloppier than a pair of scoffed shoes or a wrinkled shirt collar.  Do you hate polishing shoes?  Buy patten leather.  Do you hate ironing?  Invest in some fabulous no-iron blouses or wear matte jersey.

Click-click click.  Is that the sound of your shoes?  Nothing screams “amateur” more than high heels that have been compeltely worn down.  For less than 10 bucks, your friendly neighborhood shoe repair man will install a sturdy new  new heel cap.  Stop putting it off- both your feet and your look will benefit.

Yick

Be realistic about what looks fresh and what does not.  I have a red twinset that my mother and I got at the Esprit outlet in 1999.  I have managed to take excellent care of it, and I still wear the shell today.  On the other hand, I recently gave up on a Banana Republic sweater that was only 2 seasons old- it was pilling and pulling, and the color had faded.  I now look very closely at everything I put on before going to work- is it in good shape?  Is the color true?  Are the seams intact?  If there is even the slightest bit of a question, I either repair it or give it away.  “Ancient” looking clothes automatically look sloppy.

3.  Learn how to bargain shop like a champ.  People at work are shocked to discover that I do 99% of my shopping at TJ Maxx, Loehmann’s and Filene’s Basement.  I often hear comments about how most things at discount stores are trash, but in my opinion you have to be smart and patient to get the best deals.  Here’s what I do:

I give myself plenty of time.  Regular stores like JCrew and Brooks pay merchandisers to create attractive displays that cause the shopper to readily see how good a dress or pair of slacks can look (on emaciated mannqeuins, often, but that is not something I want to get in to!).  Discount stores simply put everything on racks and leave it to you to hunt for the gems.  I will literally go through every rack that carries my size and look for things that look good to me.

In the beginning stages of building a wardrobe, I buy seasonless color and fabrics.  This means I focus on fabrics like lightweight wool, matte jersey, heavy cotton, cashmere, and satin.  I stay away from linen, boucle, velvet, and other season-specific fabric until I have the means to purchase things that I can only wear for a portion of the year.  Likewise, if I have limited funds, I’m not going to spend my money on island-print dresses or winter white pants; I am going to purchase khaki trousers and a basic black dress to dress me through the seasons.  Once I have a firmly established wardrobe, then, and only then, can I get the “fun” seasonal extras.

I look for quality.  I carefully examine the construction of each piece, examining the hems, how the sleeves are attached, the uniformity of the button holes, or the sturdiness of the collar.  If something feels flimsy, weak, or uneven to me, I don’t care how cheap or pretty it is, it is a definite no.  I do this at expensive department stores and other brand name shops too.  You would be shocked at how cheaply some of the stuff at your favorite stores is made.  The more you do this, the more you train your eyes to know what to look for, and the easier it gets.

I look for classic colors with clean lines that provide a neutral and grown-up backdrop to display the things I really care about in fashion- fit and accessories.  On any day of the week, I would rather wear a well-fitting black pencil skirt with a simple sweater than a gimmicky dress.  I can add interest to my classic pieces with fun shoes or an interesting necklace.

I don't think so

Simple black and white

4.  No ifs, ands or ghetto booties:  Everything must fit.  You can be wearing a $5000 St. John Knit and you will look cheap and unreasonable if it is tugging and your hips.  This has been especially tough for me in the past year, as I have put on weight and have had to say goodbye to some pieces I really love.  But in the end, I either got them tailored, or I gave them to charity.  I would rather look polished, put-together, and competent than hold on to  my size X suit.  Here are some things to look for:

Button down shirts and cardigans:  No tugging at the boobs.  See yesterday’s post if this is a chronic problem for you.

Pencil skirts:  They should lie flat on your WAIST (not your hips or your rib cage).  If they ride up when you walk, they are too tight.

Pants:  If closing them takes some real effort, abandon ship.  Likewise, if you find yourself pulling them up regularly, either eat more or get smaller pants. 

Dresses:  They should always follow the curves of one’s body and highlight your shape, but if you are ever able to see the whole outline of your boobs, waist, and hips, you are either in an Herve Leger and out a club, or your dress is too tight.  If you can’t see your figure at all underneath your dress, cinch it with a belt immediately or get it taken in.  Potato sacks are for produce, not professionals.

No gaping button holes, check

5.  Wear accessories that are as fearless and proactive as you are.  If daily you are still wearing those diamond studs from your 16th birthday and the silver Tiffany initial necklace your college boyfriend, your accessories are failing to enrich your outift.  The true way for a woman to look pulled together is with statement accessories.  Princess Di would have looked naked without her big stud earrings, as would Blair Waldorf without her outrageous headbands, or Barbara Bush without her fabulous fabulous pearls.  Accessories must speak directly to an outfit, otherwise, they are just white noise. 

6.  Insist on still being yourself.  One of the things that tortured me most about my first year out of college was doing a complete style 180- from adorable sorority girl to frumpy assistant in my crewneck sweaters and long skirts.  Uh-uh- not me!  I am an uber feminine, slightly city-chic girly girl.  So I love wearing pencil skirts, wrap blouses, and peeptoe heels that make me feel ladylike.  Likewise, you should allow your true self to shine through in your clothes.  Do you love sparkle?  Wear a broach like Michelle Obama.  Are you a serious prep?  Freshen up your look with a crested jacket.  Being appropriate and professional doesn’t neccessarily mean black slacks, a white button-down, and utter boredom.  Be fabulous!

 

 

Boobs

Yeah, I didn’t sugar coat that title did I?  Whatever, it’s an important topic to me.  Aren’t boobs amazing?  They carry out the miracle of birth by  nourishing tiny babies so they can grow.  Yet somehow, they have also managed to become a somewhat controversial body part.  On the one hand, they embody female vitality and life-giving physicality- such beautiful, positive, holy things.  On the other hand, they can evoke lust, greed, and envy (Real Housewives of New Jersey?  Monica Lewinsky?).

Oh yeah, and gentlemen fancy them.

As if all this weren’t confusing enough, many women today are utterly dissatisfied with their breast size that (if you believe in God) God Himself bestowed upon them.  Tiny-breasted girls want bigger, more voluptuous breasts so they can have that enviable bit of cleavage that the Victoria’s Secret models display on more billboards, magazine ads, and television commercials than I really think is appropriate.

Can't we keep the pictures of ladies in their undies to men's recreational and women's fashion magazines? Puh-leeze? Do I really want to see Gisele Bundchen's butt cheek while I am trying to watch the news with my father?

Larger-chested girls, on the other hand, long to be able to look cute and flirty in halter tops or fun bikinis, but find that their ample bosom is so dominant that even button-down shirts can look trashy.

Have I mentioned that minimizer brassieres are not sexy?

Le sigh.  This whole issue became very prevalent in my battles with anorexia.  As a ballet dancer, you basically need to have a flat chest to spend your life doing jumps in these leotards that provide absolutely no support to your body.  They are so skimpy that you can’t wear a sports bra underneath.  When I was going through puberty, I was terribly embarrassed of my rapidly-growing bosom in ballet class.  I felt sloppy and oafish with my growing upper-body curves while my naturally-stick-thin classmates seemed spritelike with the clean, straight lines of their chest regions.  I went through all kinds of lengths to try to disguise them- matronly leotards, extra brassieres, and the worst, literally duct-taping my chest to flatten it out.  Removing the layers of sweat-soaked silver tape after class is one of the most physically painful memories of my life.

Fast forward to today, 2009.  Here I am, hopefully almost entirely recovered from my most recent relapse.  I have put on a significant amount of weight in the last year, and I will admit it has been terribly difficult to transition from (at my sickest)  feeling like one of those sprite-like girls in my ballet class to  (now) attempting to embrace my God-given figure.  I know deep in my heart that I am not naturally skinny, and when I am skinny, I am sick.  Likewise, I know that when I am so thin that I have a smaller bosom- that is not me.  That is not my natural figure.  So I’m working on accepting and maybe someday embracing the ample chest I naturally have. 

In the meantime, my years of dealing with my chest (my bra size is so obscure, 99% of stores don’t even carry it!) have resulted in an implicit understanding of undergarments, cuts of clothes, and flattery.  So here’s a couple for us curvy-chested lasses:

1.  Regular replacement of undergarments is key.  The bras you wear are working about a million times harder than Kate Hudson’s, and their structure will reflect that.  The more you wear your bra, the more the straps stretch and have trouble lying flat, the more the cups lose their shape, the more the elasticity of the garment loses its structure.  As such, replace your bras often.  Like every six months to a year.  It sounds exorbitant, but once you go into a store and try on a new, fresh bra, you will immediately feel the difference.

2.  Different bras for different tops.  This sounds like a no-brainer, but it really isn’t.  I have this one down to an art form.  I have one bra that doesn’t do tons of compression, and as a result, my “friends” are less pushed-together, and it gives me way less cleavage.  I wear this little number whenever I am wearing a V-neck shirt so I don’t get the whole icky Atlantic City coin slot look. 

You could hide a pack of Newport lights in there.

Likewise, on the rare occasion that I do wear a crewneck top, I use a combination of my sturdiest minimizer underneath a seamless bra.  This makes them look under control, but the top layer smooths out any lumps cause by the compression.  If I am wearing a scoopneck, I don’t wear my most uplifting undergarment to minimize the little foothills that can form underneath the clavicle a la Christina Hendricks.

3.  You don’t need sexy lingerie underneath your clothes to look good.  Stop trying to purchase flimsy little balconettes and demis with bows, floral applique, and God-knows what else.  At the end of the day, a sturdy minimizer with thick straps and a supportive (read:  fuller cut) back will work hard for you and leave you looking perkier, more streamlined, and more fabulous than any of those gimmicky undergarments.  Leave those to Kate Hudson.

4.  Carry your chest with confidence and don’t allow your chest to carry you.  Some bustier lasses are susceptible to wearing turtlenecks every day, maintaining poor posture, or insisting on buying everything a size too big in order to detract from their chest.  Unfortunately for those women, such tendencies not only draw more attention to their ample assets, but they expose the discomfort with which they carry themselves.  The girls I know that carry larger chests the best have excellent posture and wear figure-flattering, tailored clothes, and own their chests with dignity.  Trust me, if you do those things, no one will mistake you for an Atlantic City coin slot.

Be proud of who you are- inside and out (no matter how far out they go)!

Packing for Travel

I wish

I’ve mentioned all the time I put into packing for trips, so I thought I would take some time to relay to you what I have learned from my travelling experiences.  I am focusing on my current trip to Rome, so please excuse my focus on making this an exclusively summer-related post.  I don’t want to depress myself with the thoughts of gloves and snowboots.  Yick.

1. Find a stylish way to carry all your neccessities with you on a daily basis.  And no, I don’t mean by using a fanny pack, even if it is Gucci.

There’s nothing worse for a fabulous outfit than accessorizing with some cheap tote bag you got for free at your last business conference.  Obviously, you’ll need to stash your water bottle, a map, a Kashi bar or two (or three), a travel book, and your camera.  Certainly the teeny little Furla you use day-to-day will not cut it.  Have no fear!  Find a sleek alternative to house all of your belongings without detracting from your well-thought-out ensemble.  Just use one of your larger purses (duh), or in invest in a less-expensive quality tote.  Here are some suggestions:

Longchamp:  they are amongst the cheapest designer bags you can buy that are incredibly durable and will complement everything from sexy black trousers and heels to a maxi dress.

I know some are vehemently opposed to this line, but I highly supportVera Bradley.  For less than 100 dollars, you can find a quality bag in a print that flatters you in a variety of shapes and sizes, with various pockets and zippers to support your storage needs.  And be festive.  Plus, it’s hand washable, and I don’t think anything screams “vacation” more than flourescent paisley.

As per usual, my favorite tip is to scour your local Marshall’s, Loehmann’s, Filene’s, or TJ Maxx.  I’ve noticed TJ Maxx has had a plethora of Betseyville products for a legit steal. 

Also, please stay away from any of the following:

Mini backpacks- unless if you are in elementary school.

L.L. Bean totes in urban situations- save it for the beach.

Any bag with a message- vacation is not the time to be a walking billboard, political statement, or joke.

Any bag without structure- sacks are for potatoes and money, not for your wallet.

2.  Consider the dress the omnipresent answer to any style predicament you may have.  When looking forward to my trip to Rome, I wanted to make sure I looked chic, but still felt comfortable, cool (I knew it was going to be hot), and had enough skin covered to not get kicked out Italian churches.  Enter the versatile day dress.  Here are some of my picks:

A wrap dress- worthy of work with pumps, worthy of a date with strappy sandals, worthy of sight-seeing in hot weather with its cooling matte jersey material, universally flattering wrap-top and a-line skirt, and adustable tie depending on how much dessert you’ve eaten.

Excuse the hair and lack of makeup. Laundry by Shelli Segal at Loehmann's. Original price: $225, I got it for $50.

The coverup dress-  Most likely intended for covering up while having mimosas poolside, this versatile little number can be made appropriate with the proper accessories.  Leave the flip-flops at home and add some grown-up gold sandals and a fabulous necklace.  You’ll be incredibly cool and comfs, but look ready for a proper lunch at any fancy cafe.

Cotton JCrew dress, on sale for $29.99

A white ultimate summery dress- these eyeletty, lacy, girly little numbers leave no mistake about your feminity.  This is a look you that screams fun, flirty, romance, summer.  You’ll keep your cool in their airy shapes, and they can be dressed down for sight-seeing, or dressed up for dinner on the town.  Loves.

Ann Taylor loft on sale for $39.99

Cameron Diaz in Oscar de la Renta

 

 

 

My goddess

 

 

The shift dress- look like an absolute lady in one of these structured numbers that hides your cleavage but leaves your shoulders bare for sun and comfort.  The simple lines of these dresses is flattering on most shapes, and they often come in incredibly fun and unique patterns.  Dress up (even for work) with pumps and a cardy, or use on vacation for sightseeing or dinner in this omni-appropriate frock.  Loves.

$39.99 on sale at Ann Taylor

A Lily original

3.  Stay modest- I don’t need to tell you that there will be places you will be going that may frown upon bare shoulders, exposed cleavage, or sexy little straps.  Don’t allow the haters to rain on your sexy parade!  Fold up a simple pashmina in your bag to throw over your shoulder whenever you enter a church.  You’ll still stay cool and get some color on your upper body (ensuing jealousy amongst your coworkers upon your return) but won’t frighten the priests in Santa Maria Maggiore.

Kim Kardashian, gorgeous as always.

4. Leave the trends at home!  Quoting Cher Horowitze, “I don’t mean to be a traitor to my generation,” but seriously, folks.  Save the motorcycle boots, flannel shirts, acid-washed jeans, ridiculous sunglasses, or whatever else is “hip” at the moment for the next time your listening to blues on the Lower East Side.  Europe is in a completely different time zone fashion-wise, and chances are, your silly booties or ripped jeans looks have already come and gone.  Not to mention, you are going to be looking at pictures of yourself years from now, remembering your amazing travels.  And you certainly don’t want that same sinking feeling in your stomach you get whenever you look at your big, crimpy hair from your 1994 school picture, do you?  Stick with the classics. 

Don't

even

think

about

it.

5.  Remember, it’s vacation from work, not vacation from looking good- I hate it when articles tell you to only pack materials that down require folding or ironing, encourage you to only bring a few articles of clothing (2 pairs of short and 3 shirts- all you need for a week, right?  Wrong!), and say it’s perfectly ok to lax on everything else.  In my opinion, without the stress of work, this is the ultimate time to take pleasure in pampering yourself!  Vacay is the perfect time to wear linen, poplin, and washed silk, and since you aren’t rushing to get out the door ar 6:00 am, take the time to enjoy ironing those perfect trousers or your favorite blouse.  And who cares if you have to bring a bigger suitcase in order to enjoy having a selection of clothes to wear for every occasion?  I would rather feel prepared for dinner at any restaurant than have a tiny suitcase but be stuck wearing something inappropriate.  Finally, remember, this is the time you will be taking pictures you will remember for a lifetime, so if you have to touch up your nails by the pool, spend an extra five minutes deep-conditioning your hair, or pack touch-up makeup in your purse, who cares?  It’s not like you’re late for a conference call!

A Passion for Fashion

Buongiorno beauties!  As we speak I am on my way to the airport, so I am posting the first of the vacation posts I prepared for my vacation.  I hope you enjoy!

My penchant for style and aesthetics began at a very early age.  As a pre-schooler, I only wore dresses and refused pants, deeming them “boyish.”  My equally stylish mother and I got all of my beautiful clothes at The Wooden Soldier each summer, where we would literally spend all day matching that perfect dress to the perfect shoes and matching hat in eager anticipation for next year’s Easter.  I insisted on carrying multiple purses at a time so I could feel fully accessorized.  I would accompany my mom on her trips to Talbots and longed for the day when I too could wear beautiful “grownup” dresses, pumps, and big gold earrings.

Mary Cassatt is always in en vogue

You might say not much has changed. 

Typical

There is nothing in life that brings me more joy than aesthetics, and as such, dressing well isn’t just a hobby nor is it petty narcissm.  Just as some feel strongly about politics or a particular sports team, my commitment to the Platonic notion of beauty is part of who I am.  Silhouette, proportion, clarity, balance, intrigue- these are values I hold dear to me.    Frederick Hart, one of the greatest sculptors of the 20th century and an artist whose I work I have daily contact with, followed a similar lifelong quest for the good in beauty.  He said, “It’s oriented towards celebrating and embodying what I would call the nobility of the human spirit.  I am not purely looking for aesthetic beauty, but it’s part of the whole. There’s something about the pursuit of beauty that has profound moral implications.”

Plus I like looking hot to impress my man.

Thus concludes my introduction to the fashion portion of my vacation posts- this blog is about healthy living, and we all know that healthy living isn’t just about food, it is about the whole self.  So in the coming days I have wrote some not-so-thought-provoking posts on my love of clothes so I can share one of the great joys in my life with you.  All the while I’ll be eating pasta in Italy.  Enjoy!!

Typical Sunday

Buona sera!  It has been a typical and fabulous day at casa Ferguson.  M and I thrive on routine like you wouldn’t believe, so “typical” and “according to plan” are like magic to our ears!

Last night, I met M and his friends at Hooters to catch the last couple minutes of the Yankee game.  They had spent the last 3 hours drinking pitchers, eating wings and fried pickles, and talking fantasy baseball.  I fit right in.

Luckily, Veronika showed up and added some estrogen to the table.  Here we are with our Sutter Home chardonnay.  Classy.

It was a fun night.  I am so incredibly grateful to live in a city where we have friends so close to us and we can enjoy their company by just taking the Metro downtown.  Mike and I are extremely close with our various friends from high school, college, and beyond, and feel so lucky to have these wonderful friendships that bring so much joy in our lives.  I’m a loooosssseeerrrrr.

By the time we got home, it was 2:00am (!) and I was hungry since I had dinner at 5:45, so I munched on an unpictured apple before bed.

Of course, I woke up at 8am.  So I choked down some swamp juice (chocolate Amazing Grass with Stevia) and had a handful of uhmazing blueberries, then got back in bed and enjoyed just reading and relaxing.  I heart amazing grass.  It just makes me feel, well, amazing.  A while later, it was time for brrrruunchie.

The afternoon was spent doing some blog-related stuff (you’ll see while I’m on vacay!), cleaning the house, doing laundry, and doing as much grocery shopping as I could for when we return next week.  I got all of the non-perishable stuff (brown rice, whole wheat pasta, oats, etc.), a bunch of Mike’s perishable-but-with-a-long-shelf-life-stuff (lunch meat, sausages, eggs), and all the produce I thought would last for the week (an underripe pineapple, carrots, onions, etc.).  I want the house to be clean and the fridge to be full when we return next Sunday, because I will be in no mood to do ANYTHING I am sure due to jet lag!  I did some serious fruit munching throughout the afternoon, including another unpictured apple, a delicious champagne mango and mini-nectarine chopped up in a bowl, and several more handfuls of crazy good bluebs (unpictured).

Later I had a snackie of some raw veggies with lemon pepper, and I realized it was well past lunchtime!

So I made myself a perfect bowl of love:  the rest of the pint of blueberries (great, I ate $3.00 worth of blueberries today, cool), a perfectly overripe banana, about 1/2c. Fage, cinn, an umeasured (!) amount of Fiber One, and a packet of Justin’s Organic Peanut Butter.

Holy sh** this bowl blew my mind.  And kept me full for the rest of the afternoon!  By now you guys might have noticed that I get hungry often, so I was so impressed with my lunch’s staying power.

Dinner was totally low-key, and consisted of a Hugh Jass with greens, carrot, tomatoes, onion, and crunchy sprouts, topped with lemon pepper, a little lite Parmesan dressing for some fat, mustard, and 1/5 block of tofu I browned up in a skillet with some spray.  On the side I had a slice of Alvarado St. Bakery bread with fake butter spray. 

 

I was still feeling a little empty after that, and was craving some more protein and/or fat, so I had the perfect remedy- an ounce and a half of raw organic Gruyere.  The perfect ending to a perfect weekend.

Only one more full day of work, then a half day on Tuesday, then we fly out to Italy!  Tomorrow will be spent busily trying to get everything done at work, plus mucho packing stuff.  I mean mucho.  Hope yuo guys had as nice a weekend as I did!