How Do You Fight The Flab?

"Cher, I don't want to do this anymore. And my buns: they don't feel nothin' like steel."
Tai. Clueless

Help me ladies, I'm ten seconds away from throwing a paper bag over my head and never leaving my side of the room again (throws herself on pillow dramatically) : (

I have a dilemma.

I've always been proud of my body. Walk around in my underwear proud. It's not that my body is banging; I just believe in embracing the body you were born with. So I never had a desire to be Victoria Secret model thin; I don't mind being between a size eight and ten and I don't mind the fact that my thighs touch when I walk.

So exercising is something I just can't get motivated to do. I know I should but I eat pretty healthy (vegan) and I walk 20 mins a day to and from the subway station. It's not cardio but it's something. Needless to say, I've been pretty comfortable with my body.

That was before Spring came, I got rid of my layers and looked at what was underneath them.

Everything. On. Me. Jiggles. EVERYTHING. It's like I woke up one morning and became the Jello Lady. Have I always been this flabby? If yes, why didn't anyone tell me?!?

I don't mind being on the curvy side but I do mind being unhealthy. And this can't be healthy can it?

So I need help! How do I turn my flab into muscle without my breasts turning into pecs?

I can't afford to hit the gym but I have some dvds at home that I can blow the dust off of...

Should I start jumping rope?

What do you guys do to stay in shape?

Subway Playlist

I can't wait for summer. Summer means free music festivals. Free people!

My iPod will have to do... for now.

1. Soul Kitchen – The Doors
2. Uprising – Muse
3. She Moves In Her Own Way – The Kooks
4. Renegade – The Styx
5. Let Go – Frou Frou
6. Girls are Mad – The Ettes
7. Like I Do – Minipop
8. Violet Hill – Coldplay
9. Gnarls Barkley- Going On
10. Heads will Roll – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
11. Music is My Hot Hot Sex- CSS
12. The River of Dreams – Billy Joel
13. Wheels – Cake
14. Higher Ground - Stevie Wonder

Movies That Inspire Real Life Wardrobes

I thought this post was so cool I decided to add to it on my site: movies that inspire real life wardrobes!

For me, the following movie inspired my wardrobe and is responsible for my current style obsession.
Stealing Beauty!








I love love love this movie but even more than that, I love Lucy's (Liv Tyler's character) classic yet not stuffy, romantic but not too girly, polished bohemian wardrobe. It's very "I'm beautiful and vacationing in Italian countryside for the summer. Don't you just hate me?"

Which movies inspire your real life wardrobe?

Do You Fake A Natural Look?

I was reading this interesting post about women in the industry who go bare at work.

I'm talking about no makeup.

Duh.

There was a time when the most makeup I wore was mascara. That was until I was preparing for my first industry event and my boss asked me to "do something" about my face. To be honest, I'm not that big on makeup. I wish I could get away with not really wearing any.
I wish I had the type of skin that I could wear naked. But alas, I was given a face prone to acne.

Tis my lot in life.


While I'm not a Joy Bryant,


I certainly don't feel the need to be a Kim Kardashian.


So I go for my "natural but not really look".

These are the products I use.

Bare Minerals
Maybelline XXl Pro
Lip Balm and lipgloss
Brown Eyeshadow
Clear Mascara for eyebrows

Does anyone else have a "faux natural" routine?

Quote It.

“The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart.”

Elisabeth Foley.

Books Will Never Go Out of Style

I read this interesting opinion piece about book covers and I thought I'd share it with my readers.

What say you people?

I've never given book covers much thought. I consider the removable ones (that usually cover hardcovers) annoying.

But I can close my eyes and the image of my favorite book pops up. I guess it means more than I originally thought.

I've been talking to people about living in a world where books don't exist for years. Call me an optimist but I don't think that time will ever come. Like Bob Greene mentioned, at the very worst, books will be what old records are to some music enthusiasts. I know a Kindle could never replace a book for me. It doesn't have the smell I love, It doesn't betray its age the way a book does.

It's not the freaking same.

Sure I guess it would be more convenient to carry the electronic reading machine thingy around. Especially on the subway. But I would take the slight discomfort of a book's bulk over an electronic one any day.

But that''s just me.

JMO: Child Abuse

I read this article earlier in the week about Monique's brother. He was recently on Oprah and finally admitted he abused her when she was younger.

He said sorry.

He said he was on drugs at the time and a victim of abuse himself.

Here's the article.

I'm sorry. I have absolutely no remorse whatsoever for those who hurt children. I am human meaning I am imperfect and as a Christian, I should be able to forgive those who fall short but I have no room for "understanding" when it comes to kids.

Some believe people are products of their upbringing. I agree to an extent. But there comes a time when people can no longer let their pasts dictate their futures.

Rise above.

As far as pedophiles and sexual abusers go, I'm of the opinion that if they use it they should lose it.

Quote It

"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are far more than our abilities."
Dumbledore

To My Partners In Crime

I was never one of those girls who had this tight group of girlfriends I went to with all of my problems. I figured since I lucked out in the family department, I didn't get that. So there was never a Samantha to my Carrie, never a Thelma to my Louise, a Christina to my Meredith.

You get the picture.

Anyway, it was okay because I had my sisters and brother.

But then we all grew up and my siblings moved and started hanging out with their friends and I was kind of alone to fend for myself.

Luckily for me, I met some awesome people and slowly this world was opened up to me where I had girls and a few guys (hi Brandon) who I could talk to and laugh with and get a little tipsy with once in a while.

While I couldn't ask for a better family (they are truly the best group of people a girl like me could ever ask for), I have now been blessed in the friends department too. I can count some of the greatest women as friends.

I'm so lucky : )

Now that I'm without my favorite ladies and alone in New York (boo), I appreciate them so much more and I really miss having them around.

Instead of moping about it, I just want to say thank you for:

• sitting through The Hills, Gossip Girl, the Real World and all the other awful shows I enjoy watching. You guys never judged me by my ridiculous taste in television.
• letting me convince you that we can't watch a movie without cookies. Or cake. Or alcohol.
• convincing me that we can't watch a movie without cookies. Or cake. Or alcohol.
• letting me sleep over when I was too tired to drive home.
• baking me cakes for my birthday.
• waking me up (no matter how much I protested) and reminding me to take out my contacts.
• taking me dancing.
• eating one of my vegan meals. Actually none of you ever really ate the whole thing. Still...
• staying up with me and listening to me talk about HIM for the millionth time.
• laughing with me about everything and nothing and the absurdity of it all.

I love my girlfriends and I miss them.

What do you want to thank your favorite girls for?

Subway Playlist: High School Jams

I was walking home from work and I heard Craig David and it reminded me of high school.
Home Science represent!

What what : )

Anywho, I want to put together a playlist of songs that take me back.

I’m nostalgic like that : )

These are some songs that I associate with HSASS every time I hear them:

1. Vertical Horizon – Everything you want
2. Craig David – Walking Away
3. Ja Rule ft Ashanti – Always on Time
4. Sisqo – Unleash the Dragon/ The Thong Song
5. Lagbaja – Konko Below
6. Boomkat – The Wreckoning
7. Missy Elliot – Get Ur Freak On
8. Aaliyah – More than a Woman

Which songs take you back to your high school days?

Quote It

"Going to Paris is like losing your virginity: even if it's bad, it's unforgettable."
Marc Jacobs

Shits and Giggles Mondays: A Beyonce Song can Make you Cry

Awww, poor kid! I felt so bad but this is still pretty funny. I know I'm awful for thinking that.

Happy Monday and thanks to Perezhilton.com.

Better Late Than Never: Katie Holmes in the March 2007 Issue of Harper's Bazaar

So I was in the magazine closet at work looking through some issues for my boss when I came across Katie's cover.

This is one of my favorite Harper's Bazaar spreads so I wanted to share it with you guys.

What do you think?

The photographs were shot by Peter Lindbergh and the styling was left in Victoria Beckham's capable hands.

This Week in Frivolity...

• Hospital chic? Designer Ben de Lisi has created hospital gowns in the UK that snap down the side. The gown is made from high-quality cotton and includes a pouch for a mobile phone and is accessorized with a snugly fleece blanket.
• Do you ever wonder why guys cheat on their significant others with the fugliest women to ever walk the earth? No? Just me then… Anyway Jesse James’ho lost a modeling gig because of photographs showing her in Nazi regalia. Yes, he truly picked a winner. Anyway, she's whining because no one likes her. Now, not nearly as many people would know about McGee’s Nazi photo shoot or her White Power tattoos if she hadn’t made a quick buck at the expense of someone else. Now the cat’s out of the bag. Sucks to be you. Team Sandy.
• Can we have a moment of silence in honor of MTV’s The Hills? Okay, moment’s starting… Moment’s over! After watching the fascinating girls shop, party, cry, vacay, swap bodily fluids with Brody and pretend to have jobs, the show’s sixth season will be the final one. I for one am crushed. The Hills is my favorite scripted series. What will I do? How will I live? Thank God for The City and Jersey Shore.
• Fictional character Carrie Bradshaw is a fashion gangsta. (thanks to the very real Patricia Field) but some would say the woman has the sense of a brick when it comes to men. As a huge Aidfan (fan of Aidan) I’m ecstatic to report that GraziaDaily was right; John Corbett WILL be in the movie! The sequel comes to theatres May 27th. What do you think the storyline will be? I bet all of my lunch money that Big screws up. With a cocktail waitress by night, model/actress by day…
• So Patti Stranger, best friend to gold diggers, is packing her bags. Why, you ask? Is she going to be the den mother on the Rock of Love Bus? Unfortunately, that kind of awesomeness hasn’t reached TV yet. No the woman behind The Millionaire Matchmaker brand is coming to NYC! She’s hired Vivienne Potestivo Entertainment to handle casting for the fourth season. An insider said a bunch of “society types, hedge-fund guys and club owners” have applied.
• So a LOT of people are talking about Balmain. The house is selling a t-shirt. It’s ripped which is a big trend for spring. It’s cotton, which reminds me of that Zooey Deschanel commercial. It’s $1625. I don’t get it; does it come with free rent or something? My car isn’t worth that much. Would you buy it?
• Ugh, it seems Jake Pavelka isn’t satisfied with occupying televisions with his cheesy lines and cheesier dance moves. The former bachelor on “The Bachelor” and the current “Dancing with the Stars” contestant has hired p.r. firm Rogers & Cowan to represent him. Because what Mr. Pavelka really wants to do is act. And anyone who watched him on “The Bachelorette” knows he can… just not well.
• Wal-mart’s Op’s spring ad campaign is getting ready to launch and once again, it looks like an ad for a new CW show. They employed Young Hollywood’s prettiest stars including Gossip Girl’s Jessica Szohr, Glee’s Cory Monteith and Dianna Agron, 90210’s Trevor Donovan, Twilight’s Alex Meraz and singer Cassie. These kids aren’t exactly winning Oscars and Grammies but at least they look good.
• How cute is Selena Gomez? The Disney sweetheart is jumping on the celebrity-I’m a designer except I’m really not-bandwagon with her Dream Out Loud collection for Kmart. The store, whose products are usually pimped by Jaclyn Smith, is finally jumping on the celebrity endorsed juniors department bandwagon. Cuz all the cool kids are doing it.
• James Franco has done what Blair Waldorf couldn’t: he got into Yale. That’s right, the Milk actor has been accepted into the Ivy League school’s Ph.D. program. Franco has already received his MFA from Columbia and a degree in filmmaking from NYU. How many people can say they went to Yale and guest-starred on General Hospital?

JMO: ABC's Flash Forward

So I was watching FlashForward last night like I always do before Grey’s Anatomy. The plot is kind of unbelievable and the acting is sometimes terrible but John Cho, Michael Ealy and Joseph Fiennes kind of make up for it.

John Cho is perfection.

Anyway, in this episode, the Mosaic group went to Somalia to follow a lead on their case and a bunch of Somali rebel fighters shot up the place with no regard for human life. Then the head honcho – who repeatedly stated he was following God’s plan – was talked out of his killing spree by the American woman who tells him “you’re supposed to stop the war not start it” or some irritating comment like that and he does a 180 and starts helping out the group.

Because that’s realistic.

I could go on in greater detail but that really sums up what happened in the episode. Maybe I’m being sensitive but I am so tired of watching Africans portrayed negatively in the media. It’s getting old. Episodes like that are cliché and played out, not to mention irresponsible. They reinforce America’s ugly image of Africa and contribute to people’s unfair opinions of Africans.

It’s wrong.

I know Africa as a continent may not be progressing as quickly as everywhere else but not every country is run by killer hungry maniacs. It would be nice to see a positive story come out of the Hollywood machine at least once.

But who am I kidding?I don’t know if writers in Hollywood are capable of writing a story that isn’t formulaic and predictable.

Subway Playlist: Songs that make me want to dance till I pass out.

Everyone has that song.

You know what I'm talking about; you hear it and you start shaking your ass, bobbing your head, tapping your foot.

We all have those songs. Here are a few of mine. If I listed all of them, this post would go on forever. I exercised restraint.

1. Metric - Dead Disco
2. Enur ft. Natasja - Calabria 2007
3. Black Eyed Peas - Imma Be
4. U2 - Vertigo
5. Sean Paul - Temperature
6. Def Leppard - Pour Some Sugar on Me
7. Stevie Wonder - Superstition
8. Beyonce - Green Light
9. Black Eyed Peas - Pump It
10. Thunderheist - Jerk It
11. Missy Elliot - Work It
12. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Gold Lion
13. Lady Gaga - Just Dance
14. Shakira - La Tortura
15. House of Pain - Jump Around
16. Beyonce - Get me Bodied
17. Teddybears - Cobrastyle
18. Republica - Ready to go
19. Greyscale Music - Follow Me
20. LMFAO - Shots
    

Which songs do you listen to in preparation for a night out or to burn some calories to?