The Girl with the Curls

Because it doesn't happen every year!

2012-02-29T22:58:00.000-05:00

It's nearly over, but Happy Leap Day, everyone!

Busy, Busy, Busy.

2012-02-19T13:19:00.000-05:00

It seems that January-March is "Birthday Season" among my circle of friends and acquaintances. Every weekend for the past few weeks has been spent going to dinners, parties, movies, and just general friend-and-cake-filled get-togethers to celebrate. Tonight, for example, I'm going out to celebrate Jorge's birthday with Sean and Co.

And the pictures from above are from a meetup at Foxwoods Casino last weekend for Stef's roommate, Glen's, birthday. It was a good time. We had a couple of drinks at The Scorpion Bar, which has quickly gained momentum on my list of favorite places based almost entirely on their decor and playlists (but the food and drinks are good, too!), did a little gambling, and saw a group perform some MoTown classics at the Atrium. It was a really nice time.

Valentine's Day, dreaded by many a unattached guy/girl- was actually nice this year. Being a somewhat (see: not at all) sexy single myself, I opted to have Valentines all over. I traded schmoozy texts with my long distance Valentines in California, NYC and the UK, and stuffed myself with chocolate with the ones I had closer to home. All in all- not a bad day.

I gotta' say, though- out of all the Valentine's Day cards I saw this year, this one was my favorite:

"The Walking Dead" never fails to provide the best jokes.

And I love Shane. DON'T JUDGE ME.

A little late...

2012-02-15T22:18:00.000-05:00

I would have paid my respects to the legendary Whitney Houston sooner, but I've been wrapped up with finishing up the last leg of my Tour-De-Exhaustion otherwise known as college.

It goes without saying that Whitney's death is a terrible loss to the music world. "I Want To Dance With Somebody", "How Will I Know", and "I Will Always Love You" will always be some of my favorite karaoke and singing-in-the-shower-at-the-top-of-my-lungs classics, despite the fact that I am nowhere near talented enough to hit the high notes properly.

Much like the case with Amy Winehouse's death, I hope people remember Whitney for her immense vocal abilities and not solely for her long-time battle with addiction.

(via YoungEarlGrey. Whitney & Michael!)

Things I'm Lovin'.

2012-02-11T00:47:00.002-05:00

1. Maybelline's "Fit Me" Foundation: It seems that with every change of the season, so does my preference in foundation/tinted moisturizers. As a former Clinique Consultant and present-day lover of all things cosmetics, I'm always on the prowl for products that compliment my look and skin type. I've found a new favorite in the "Fit Me" Foundation by Maybelline. It doesn't have any of the oils or waxes some other makeup has that can clog pores and make skin look dull or patchy. It's lightweight, blends easily- and gives my skin a clean, natural finish.

2. Healthy Sexy Hair's Reinvent Color Hair Treatment (For Thick/Coarse hair): One thing I've learned about having (faux) red hair is how much of a pain in the ass the upkeep is, and one thing I've ALWAYS known about having coarse, curly hair is how much of a pain in the ass it is to keep it strong, healthy, and frizz-free. My hair prayers have been answered in the form of this lightweight, super moisturizing conditioner by the fine folks over at Sexy Hair. It protects my red from fading or discoloration, and keeps my hair hydrated so that my curls are bouncier and more defined.

3. "Shit Boston Girls Say": Because it is me. All of it. Especially the "Whoa, buddy- cool yah jets!" and the "look at this fuckin' character" parts. So spot on.

It's a short list this time around- mainly because I've got a seminar to get ready for in a few hours and I need to try to get some sleep!

'Til next time,

xox

Photos from the Weekend

2012-02-06T23:54:00.000-05:00

[1.] Car rides with Cashew.

[2.] My suite at the Hampshire Inn in Seabrook, NH.

[3-4.] Rye Beach, NH.

[5.] The Giants making my Super Bowl Sunday perfect.

Basically.

2012-02-01T21:13:00.000-05:00

Me.

Confessions of a Twenty-Something.

2012-01-29T23:53:00.004-05:00

Last weekend marked my birthday, and much like last year's celebration, I kept it low key and modest- going out to eat and watching movies with my friends. As much fun as it is to have an over-the-top party from time to time, I opted out of it this year. Partly because my birthday fell on a Sunday and I had to be at work early the following day, partly because of the Patriots/Ravens game, and partly because mother nature had decided to bless us with a snowstorm a couple of days beforehand, limiting my options for both destinations and wardrobe choices.

I had a really nice time, though- and the outpouring of love and best birthday wishes I received from friends and family from all over was amazing. I spent the day smiling and blushing from the kind words. Thank you all so, so much!

Since a good chunk of my friends are in my age bracket, I've noticed we all sort of view birthdays in a similar fashion every year. We don't get overly excited and count down the days like we did when we were kids (Chuck-E-Cheese pizza parties were THE event of the year), but we haven't quite reached the cynical stage some of my older friends are in where birthdays are a dreaded occasion, something to be swept under the rug and forgotten about. When we're too young to really go out into the world and do anything on our own, all we want is to get older, but when we're old enough and out in the world doing everything on our own- we want to revert back to our younger years when everything was so much simpler.

And every year, for those of us in the mid-to-late twenties, with every birthday we tackle head-on, like some self-fulfilling prophecy- we find ourselves comparing our current stages in life to those of other people our age. This downward spiral typically ends with a good portion of self-criticism, and a side of depression, all washed down with a nice sip of wine (or gin) to kill the aftertaste.

We've all done it. I know I have. I consider myself a successful career-oriented woman. I've been at my job for about a year and a half now, and I still wake up in the morning looking forward to going into my office every single day. I make enough money where I can live comfortably, pay my bills on time, and still treat myself and others on occasion. However, I look at other women my age who are in seemingly great relationships, are planning weddings, starting families, and who are constantly posting mushy Facebook status updates about their significant others- and I wonder if I did something wrong somewhere along the way since I'm currently single and missing something that these women have that seems to be very important (although the Facebook status updates are a bit irritating).

My own love life is what I would consider "normal" for someone my age. Certainly not perfect, and, at times, even disastrous- worthy of it's own blog entirely to dissect it's ups and downs. It isn't what I pictured it would be when I was a child. However, in fairness, Disney movies do set unrealistic expectations. I digress. My point is, while I am completely satisfied with one spectrum of my life- I find myself critiquing the other spectrum, the criticism typically based solely on what I see with other women my age who have what I don't. Am I TOO career-oriented? Am I TOO busy and preoccupied to have what they have? Is there something wrong with me?

This year, as my birthday approached, and the familiar feelings of second-guessing myself and regret came creeping up over my shoulder, I had a thought: maybe some of these doe-eyed, lovestruck, happily "taken" twenty-something women who seemed like they had it all felt like they were missing something, too. Maybe they were comparing themselves to other twenty-something women the way that I was. Maybe while they were completely satisfied in their relationships, they were re-evaluating other aspects of their lives, too- and maybe still- some of them looked at me, with my career and my financial stability- and they wondered if I had it all.

I did some searching to see if anyone else had any insight on this, and I came across an article posted on Thought Catalog, entitled "What 20-Something Has Their Dream Job And Dream Relationship?" (LINK HERE). In the article, the author, Ryan O'Connell, poses the following question:

"They say that the trifecta of happiness is comprised of good friendships, a lover, and work. Why does one always seem to be missing from the trifecta? The one missing link is what fuels us, what spawns the success of so many films, music, and books. We’re taught that eventually we’ll achieve the trifecta, but what I’d like to know is when? How long do twentysomethings have to wait for the perfect job and relationship? Is it strictly meant for thirtysomethings — a reward for enduring a fun but punishing decade?"

Ryan goes on to answer his own question (and beautifully, may I add):

"The desire for balance is understanding though. Maybe it’s not about having a “dream job” and the perfect boyfriend/girlfriend but about having a little bit of each. If you become a workaholic and spend no time watering your social life, you’re going to be miserable. If you’re a social butterfly with no job prospects, you’re also going to hate your life a little bit. But balance is elusive for people in their twenties. It’s hard to be secure financially, have a job you don’t want to kill yourself at, and have a healthy amount of sex. Is it not? Am I wrong here? Is everyone secretly satisfied in all aspects of their lives and I missed the memo? I hope not.

They say the key to finding happiness beyond romance and your professional life is to find happiness within yourself. Um, this is a NO DOY concept. But I also think people can be happy with themselves and still get sad when they aren’t in a nice relationship or have a great job. That doesn’t make them weak and have underlying issues. That just makes them human."

While I'm sure there ARE twenty-somethings out there who have great jobs and great, healthy relationships, and can balance and manage both with ease and grace- the article helped me realize that my thoughts and feelings, although a little (see: a lot) harsh on myself at times, were pretty much normal for most people my age, and that I wasn't alone in my worry that I wasn't doing something right or that I was "missing something." It also helped inspire a "better late than never New Years resolution":

I am going to stop comparing my success and current status in life to the success and current status of others my age (or younger). Why?

Because it gets me nowhere.
Because I shouldn't beat myself up about anything, ever.
Because I deserve to treat myself better than that.
Because while there will always be room for improvement, personal growth, and gain- I truly am content right now.
Because I have my whole life ahead of me, and my twenties are about having fun and finding who/what/and where I want to be/go in my life, and lastly-
Because I have a lot to look forward to, both professionally and personally, and I'm confident that things will fall into place when the time is right. I'm a good person, and good things will continue to happen to/for me at their own pace.

Thought Catalog also had a couple of other interesting articles that I really enjoyed: 5 Steps to Embracing Your Single Self in 2012, and What 20-Somethings Want, also by Ryan O'Connell. They give a good summary of what a lot of people my age are thinking, and some direct, to-the-point advice.

So here's to entering an older me with my head held high as I celebrate what I do have in life, and not worry about the things I currently don't have- because I know they will come to me eventually, and it will be wonderful.

xox

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD AND ALL THAT IS HOLY- STOP SOPA

2012-01-18T23:07:00.001-05:00

Some of you may have noticed that some popular websites were temporarily shut down or "censored" today (Wikipedia, Google, Tumblr, Reddit, etc.) in protest of the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA). This act, currently being considered by U.S. Congress, aims to put a stop to copyright infringement by eradicating websites that share/pirate music, movies, photos, videos, and text owned by others. For example, if you post a music video by an artist on your Tumblr, or share a photo on Facebook that is owned by someone else, the government could essentially shut down Tumblr and Facebook for hosting the material. To add insult to injury- you could also face prison time for posting the material in question.

While I am against piracy, I don't believe censoring the internet and violating the First Amendment is an acceptable means to an end. SOPA would do just that.

But you can help put a stop to this outrageous act- head on over to Google's 'End Piracy. Not Liberty' page and sign the petition that will go directly to Congress!

Do it now- before it's too late!

Notes from the Editor

2012-01-14T00:51:00.002-05:00

(Image from Tumblr)
Hey guys! Just updating with some site maintenance stuff. I went through all of my entries (all 271 of 'em, dating back to 2009), and fixed any broken videos & pictures. I'm sure that over time, some of the links I've posted have long since expired as well, but going in and editing/updating all of those takes a level of time and focus I just don't have- and probably never will.

I'll just have to make do with what I did accomplish.

I also tweaked some of my affiliate links and updated my profile information, but as tempted as I was to change the overall layout of the blog- I couldn't bring myself to part with the simplicity of this one (that, and I love the color combination of aqua, black, and white)- so at least that will stay the same for now.

I do think I'm going to do similar clean-ups to the site every few months as opposed to every few years, just to guarantee that everything continues to work properly and run smoothly- and because it'll take less time if I do it on a regular basis.

But enough of this boring blog status stuff- thanks for the patience, everyone. I hope everything works! If not, you all know how to reach me by now. Just be sure to either link the entry that needs editing, or specify the date of the entry & what isn't working in the body of your e-mail.

Thanks again!

xox

Out with the Boys.

2012-01-08T13:49:00.001-05:00

Last night I went out with Sean and Paulo to celebrate Sean's 26th birthday, thus beginning the two week gap I have to make fun of him for officially entering "late twenties" territory before it's my turn to feel old.

I think this definition from Urban Dictionary, which is always good for a laugh or for learning new terminology, sums up "late twenties" quite well:

At least I have inflicting maximum harm on everyone/everything around me to look forward to when my time comes?

Anyway, we had dinner at wagamama (somewhere, Steven's stomach is growling and he's shaking his fist at me for having three wagamama locations within walking distance), and followed it up by meeting up with our buddy Jorge and heading to Silvertone for a couple of drinks. To conclude the night, it was back to the apartment for cake (a birthday isn't a birthday without some cake), and while the boys decided to head back out for more drinks- I opted to stay in like a little old lady and catch up on sleep.

Happy Hangover, Sean!

In other news, I'm going to be doing some much needed site maintenance and re-vamping over the next couple of days, so if anyone has any trouble accessing any of the content on the blog, fear not- I'll have everything back up and running properly in no time.

"For goodness sake, let us be young, because time gets harder to outrun."

2012-01-03T22:19:00.001-05:00

Bonjour, mon amis!

I hope everyone enjoyed their New Years Eve. I know I did! I met up with Samantha at Grumpy Doyle's in Reading to meet her new boyfriend, Matt, and watch his band, Good Score, perform. The guys in the band were super sweet, and even let Sam and I join them in performing a few songs (Sam on tambourine, and yours truly giving everyone some much needed cowbell).

Apart from Matt and his bandmates, I also met a few other new people from the area who proved to be remarkable company to ring in 2012 with!

Everyone took a break around quarter-to-midnight to get our complimentary glasses of champagne ready and watch the ball drop on the TVs around the bar. From there, I headed to the Lord Wakefield Hotel overlooking Lake Quannapowitt, where Sam had gotten a room for us to crash for the night.

It was a really laid back and fun night. I enjoyed myself immensely.

Early on New Years Day, I brought Matt and Sam back to Matt's car, which he had left at Grumpy Doyle's for the night. Mike, a chef at the bar whom we had met the night before, had left a note on Matt's car offering us breakfast before the place opened up if we felt so inclined. We took him up on the offer- and he made us absolutely fantastic egg sandwiches with bacon. Om nom nom.

After saying my goodbyes to Sam and Matt, I headed back into Boston to meet up with Sean and Stef to toast the kick-off of the new year per our usual fashion: dinner at The Other Side (which is rumored to be closing soon, much to our dismay) followed by going for a long stroll up and down Newbury Street towards the Common since it was unseasonably warm out for most of the evening.

I had said at the beginning of 2011 that my song for the year was Florence & The Machine's "Dog Days Are Over", and it proved to be an accurate representation to the year that was. This year, I have a feeling my anthem will be "Wetsuit" by none other than The Vaccines. The ultimate "life goes by quickly- so enjoy being young while you can" song, I think it's absolutely beautiful- and serves as a reminder that even though I'm a bit of a workaholic these days, I need to stop and enjoy life, too- and that silly, carefree, foolish fun is completely okay.

I love the video, too- which features a few familiar faces!

If at some point we all succumb
For goodness sake let us be young
Because time gets harder to outrun
And I'm nobody, I'm not done
With a cool cool breeze and dirty knees
I rest on childhood memories
We all got old at breakneck speed
Slow it down, go easy on me
Go easy on me

Put a wetsuit on, come on, come on
Grow your hair out long, come on, come
Put a t-shirt on
Do me wrong, do me wrong, do me wrong

If it's up and after you
What do you suppose that you would do?
You're all whacked out from lack of sleep
You blame it on the friends you keep
You want to do things differently
And do them independently
We all got old at breakneck speed
Slow it down, go easy on me
Go easy on me

Put a wetsuit on, come on, come on
Grow your hair out long, come on, come
Put a t-shirt on
Do me wrong, do me wrong, do me wrong
Put a wetsuit on, come on, come on
Grow your hair out long, come on, come
Put a t-shirt on
Do me wrong, do me wrong, do me wrong

Does holy water make you pure?
Submerged your vision's just obscured
You're a lot like me
In up to our knees
In over your chest is way too deep

Put a wetsuit on, come on, come on
Grow your hair out long, come on, come
Put a t-shirt on
Do me wrong, do me wrong, do me wrong
Put a wetsuit on, come on, come on
Grow your hair out long, come on, come
Put a t-shirt on
Do me wrong, do me wrong, do me wrong
xx

Year in Review: 2011

2011-12-31T18:02:00.002-05:00

I feel like I ALWAYS make a comment on how quickly time flies in my "End of the Year Wrap-up" posts, but WOW- 2011 REALLY did go by quickly! It seems like it was just yesterday I was taking off for an impromptu weekend away in Vegas, or surviving my first tornado, but here we are again, bidding farewell to an incredible year and preparing to welcome a new one.

I had said that 2010 was the year I got my shit together, and 2011 was definitely the year I got to enjoy some of the rewards from my hard work. I managed to save up money without preventing myself from having any sort of fun or going on any type of adventure. For example, I traveled more in 2011 (mostly to my favorite places in the country: San Diego and Las Vegas), without breaking the bank- as well as buy my new car- proving that I'm getting better at budgeting and therefore am indeed getting older (but wiser!)

And in what can only be described as a miracle- 2011 comes to a close on a high note with my father beating cancer. His diagnosis back in September, followed by his questionable treatment at UMass Memorial Medical Center- had the potential to not only ruin this year, but many more years to come- until the unbelievable heroes over at Dana-Farber swooped in to save the day, and his life. He's currently on the mend, and I couldn't be more thankful or happy.

In hindsight, 2011 was a very good year for me. I met some amazing new people who have since become part of my family, and I also got to re-connect with old friends I've missed dearly over the past couple of years. There were bad times this year, sure- there always will be every so often- but the good times far outweighed any low points and that's what matters most.

Of course, this year wasn't just about me and my life. 2011 was bursting with incredible news stories and quite a few pop culture phenomenons, too. So without further ado...

This is 2011: A Summary.

Time Magazine named "The Protester" as their Person of the Year in 2011. A wise choice, in my opinion. This year saw the uprising of oppressed and angry individuals finally finding and using their voices to speak out against tyranny and injustice around the world. From the Middle East's "Arab Spring", to right next door at Occupy Wall Street, whose message and movement has spread to other major cities in the U.S.- the outraged stayed resilient through the elements, sometimes violent counter-protesters, and even pepper spray trigger-happy law enforcement to get their message across. In places like Egypt and Libya, the uprisings proved effective, sparking much needed and desired change throughout their countries. Protesters definitely took the wheel in 2011, helping steer us into new horizons and uncertain, but hopeful futures.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, there were a couple of notable, embarrassing riots in 2011 that temporarily overshadowed the efforts of peaceful protesters and made me fear (and weep) for future generations. London looters destroyed sections of the beautiful city for fun and for flatscreen TVs after police had shot and killed a man in Tottenham, while Vancouver was turned upside down by crazed, enraged hockey fans after the Canucks' loss to The Boston Bruins. The riots were further perpetrated by social networking, as those involved took to Twitter and Facebook to plan meet-ups for looting, show off what they'd stolen, and basically make themselves look like irresponsible and immature assholes. The social networking bragging backfired for some, though- as they were identified by their peers, and later by authorities who prosecuted them for their crimes later on in the year.

2011 saw the death of a notorious terrorist leader, Osama bin Laden, as well as two out of touch, lunatic dictators- Muammar Gaddafi of Libya and Kim Jong Il of North Korea- forever changing the landscape of freedom, and re-prioritizing the people we had to fear who threatened that freedom.

It also made "Team America: World Police" popular again!

This year, the world had the distinct pleasure of seeing two people in love marry each other in a fairy tale-come-to-life Royal Wedding, as well as the brief marriage (and the quicker divorce) of a money-hungry reality star and her athlete beau in what could be dubbed the "Sham of the Decade".

Now The Duchess of Cambridge- Kate Middleton dazzled the world as the classy, beautiful, and very down-to-Earth longtime girlfriend of England's Prince William. When the two became engaged at the end of 2010, it was pretty much already established that their wedding would be a regal event for the ages- much like Princess Diana's wedding had been- and when the exchange of vows took place in April, the Royals didn't disappoint. Between Kate's dress, Harry's mischievous smirk as he watched his brother tie the knot, and the long-awaited kiss on the balcony at Buckingham Palace- the wedding was an absolute joy to watch.

If the Royal Wedding renewed your faith in true love and romance, then Kim Kardashian's 72 day marriage to New Jersey Nets' player Kris Humphries did everything it possibly could to destroy it. I don't watch any of the Kardashian's television programming, mainly because I don't like to inflict mental anguish on myself- but I hope this family's 15 minutes are up soon and that they fade faster than Paris Hilton after this publicity stunt.

If there was one thing I took a particular interest in 2011, it was the courtroom drama that unfolded in the news. It seemed no outcome could be expected. Some verdicts and rulings were infuriating, like Casey Anthony walking free after being found "not guilty" of murdering her daughter, Caylee- or the case of Troy Davis- who was put to death by lethal injection despite no solid evidence and recanted stories by eye-witnesses, and who swore his innocence until the very end.

And still, other verdicts and rulings seemed long-overdue and satisfying- like Conrad Murray being found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Michael Jackson, and American student Amanda Knox finally being allowed to return home after 4 years in an Italian prison after a media influenced, seemingly biased trial in Italy where she was accused of murdering her then roommate, Meredith Kercher.

I'm pretty sure that the outcomes to these cases were more suspenseful than any episode of "Law & Order" could ever hope to be.

It should come as no surprise that there was a good amount of crazy weather/natural disasters in 2011. On the East Coast alone we experienced a tornado, an earthquake, and a hurricane- all within 3 months- but other places were hit on more devastating levels. Japan continues to suffer the after effects of a 9.0 magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami from March, while Joplin, Missouri is still rebuilding after an F5 tornado dropped right on top of them in May- obliterating most of their community in an seconds.

I'm hoping mother nature decides to show us a little mercy (and forgets about that whole Mayan prophecy) in 2012.

This year we lost immense talents and contributors to film, music, and technology. Elizabeth Taylor, the legendary actress, passed away at 79. Amy Winehouse, one of my favorite singers, died tragically at 27, and Steve Jobs, the innovator who co-founded Apple and gave us the gadgets we love like the iPod and the iPhone- lost his battle with pancreatic cancer at 56.

They will be missed tremendously.

If I were to name "THE" celebrity of 2011, Charlie Sheen would definitely be in the running. His very public meltdown and consequent termination from his gig on the obscenely unfunny "Two and a Half Men" had started off pretty comical, with Charlie coining amusing catchphrases that were almost instantly run into the ground via Twitter ("Winning", "tiger blood", "rock star from mars", etc.)- but his escapades quickly turned into the downright depressing when he lost custody of his kids and then hit the road for a bomb of a "tour". Comedy Central's annual roast was dedicated to Sheen this year, and the actor seemed to be less crazy than usual when he took the stage.

Charlie made my list in 2010 as well, after he locked a prostitute in his hotel room's closet. Here's hoping he can stay off of it in 2012.

On the other hand, one of the most inspiring stories came to us in the wake of a tragedy back in January when six people were killed in an assassination attempt on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Giffords was critically injured, having been shot in the head- but miraculously survived, and has been on the road to recovery ever since. Her courage, strength, and resilience- which shined through at a triumphant return to the House of Representatives- provided a beacon of hope in an otherwise horrific event.

The Penn State Scandal: In one of the most disgusting, deplorable sports scandals ever, multiple sexual abuse allegations against former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky came to light. What made it even worse was the apparent cover-up by higher ups in the athletic department at the university, and the nonchalant dismissal of the abuse by head coach Joe Paterno, who was later terminated from his position in shame. The outcry from Paterno/Penn State supporters was vile- and made one wonder what was more important: justice for victims and protection for future children- or football.

Rebecca Black's "Friday": Unintentionally hilarious/worst catchy song of the year? You bet! Fourteen year old Rebecca Black's music video for "Friday" went viral in 2011. It's so-simple-it's-stupid lyrics ("Partyin', partyin', yeah! Fun! Fun! Fun!") awkward rap breakdown out of nowhere, and overall awfulness sparked countless remixes and covers. In Black's defense, she actually didn't write the lyrics or the melody to this song- production company ARK did (which makes the whole thing even funnier when you take into consideration that ADULTS were behind this), and she seems to have handled the negative attention and embraced her unexpected and brief brush with fame with maturity and a good sense of humor, for a teenager.

The Rapture! Or... Not...: Despite being wrong twice before, Harold Camping's prediction that the world would end on May 21st this year sparked panic among his followers. Many gave up their life savings and worldly possessions to prepare for the return of Christ and the end of civilization as we know it. Needless to say, they felt a little sheepish when it didn't happen... And even more sheepish when Camping changed the date to October 21st- again- with no result.

Adele's "21": Beautiful voice, meaningful lyrics- Adele's "21" was filled with enough heartbreaking, tearjerker songs to make it the quintessential breakup album of 2011. Even if you weren't going through a breakup or a rocky point in a relationship, hell- even if you weren't in a relationship to begin with- the album still had enough emotion in it to defrost even the iciest of hearts.

The Red Sox Collapse: As a Boston girl and a lover of the Sox, nothing infuriated me more than watching the team pretty much throw in the towel before the season was even over. When reports came in that the team spent time drinking alcohol and eating fried chicken during the games- and just acting like spoiled prima donnas in general- the "team that could" quickly became the laughing stock of the MLB with their historical collapse in September. Shortly after enraging hopeful fans, it didn't take long for the blame to be thrown around. Terry Francona, the team's manager- was not asked to return for the 2012 season, marking the end of an era- and Jonathan Papelbon, the closing pitcher- went on to sign with the Phillies.

__________________________

And that, my friends- was 2011.

Tonight, much like last year, I'll be ringing in 2012 with the always lovely Samantha Ryan, where we'll be attending the party of the century:

Kidding- but how accurate is that? How many New Years Eve parties have you seen/been to that are EXACTLY like that?

Some of my resolutions for 2010 were made a little hastily, such as going to France and becoming fluent in the language- but for the most part, I stuck with what I had wanted to accomplish. This year, my resolutions are pretty basic, and are more of a continuation of what I set out to do last year- continue to work hard and save my money, finish college and get my Associate's Degree, keep staying fit and eating right- and take the time to stop and enjoy the little things in life.

If I had to make one specific resolution, I'd like to visit Dublin, Ireland this year if I have the time. We'll have to wait and see how that turns out!

And with all that said, I'm off to finish getting ready to go out. Thanks for being so amazing, 2011- please tell 2012 it has some big shoes to fill on your way out the door- and that I hope it really isn't the year the world ends!

I wish you all a wonderful and prosperous new year. Have a safe celebration tonight, and I'll see you all in 2012!

Cheers!

xoxo

Miracle on 34th Street

2011-12-23T01:21:00.003-05:00

As I mentioned at the end of my last post, I spent this past weekend in NYC with Sean to catch a performance of "Sleep No More" at the old "McKittrick Hotel". Some of you may remember my last experience with 'Sleep No More' when it came to Brookline in 2009, and the experience in New York was just as incredible, if not more so. The sets were even more elaborate, I stumbled upon more than one hidden passageway that led to rooms I would have otherwise missed while exploring, and there were extra scenes/acts going on all around. Not only that, but we were allowed to roam the floors (with our masks on, of course) for longer than we originally did back in '09.

Besides the play, Sean and I did our best to stay warm (it was FREEZING out) and do a little bit of sight-seeing. We stopped by Rockefeller Center, where I got to see the Christmas tree on display for the very first time. We also stopped by the new World Trade Center building being constructed, and did some shopping before frost bite started to kick in.

I also did something I've always wanted to do since I was a kid: I bought my mom jewelry from Tiffany's & Co. for Christmas. Everyone at the store were so nice and helpful, and they made sure the present was wrapped perfectly. I can't wait to see the look on my mom's face when she opens it!

My mother isn't the only one getting something wonderful this year for Christmas. I got my very own Christmas miracle thanks to the folks over at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, who took over my dad's medical treatment recently. This past Tuesday, they performed an intricate and intensive surgery to remove the cancer from my his liver- and I'm happy to report that it was a success! My dad is currently in recovery, and is doped up on a lot of medication- but he's doing well and still has his sense of humor:

(Me and dad on Wednesday night.)
Once he's on his feet again and has his strength back, he'll be undergoing a couple of chemotherapy treatments, just to be on the safe side to make sure that the coast really is clear, but all signs point to him being cancer-free and on the mend! He may even be able to come home for Christmas!

It's going to be a long road to recovery, but my family and I are breathing a collective sigh of relief and taking it day by day. I've said it before, and it absolutely needs to be said again- but we truly appreciate all the love and support so many of you have sent my dad, my mom, and myself over the past few months. It means so, so much to us and believe me when I say I love and appreciate all of you.

And so much gratitude is owed to Dana-Farber for their unrelenting determination to get my dad better, and for their kindness, which has extended well beyond the hospital. They are truly a wonderful and caring facility- both to patients and to their patients' families.

It's getting late, and I've got to work in the morning, so I'm going to wrap this entry up. If I don't update before Christmas, I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!

xox

Things I'm Lovin'.

2011-12-16T21:06:00.003-05:00

It's been a while since I've done one of these posts (The last one was in June, to be more specific), but I'm loving so many things right now that I just have to share some of 'em.

1. Fable And Fury Jewelry: A friend pointed me in the direction of Fable And Fury after discovering their stainless steel Malcolm McDowell pendant, and it didn't take long for me to fall in love with their entire collection of handmade jewelry. The pieces above are on my "to-buy" wishlist so far.

2. Peppermint Nails!: Instead of wearing a Santa hat, or an ugly Christmas sweater (although I do love them ever so much), I opted to give my nails a little holiday makeover last night in the form of a candy cane themed manicure. Here's a quick and easy DIY Tutorial if you feel like getting the look at home.

3. Betsey Johnson's Love Birds Ring: Sticking with the theme of unique jewelry and making my fingers look pretty, I've fallen head over heels for this ring. Part of Betsey's "Rose Garden Collection", it's right up my alley of cute and quirky (much like my spider cuff bracelet by the fabulous Miss Johnson that I splurged on a couple of months ago). Once I'm done Christmas shopping, I think I may treat myself a little... Again.

4. My batshit insane Christmas cards!: Every year, if my schedule permits, I like to take the time to make cheesy arts & crafts styled (and often inappropriate) Christmas cards for some of my friends and family. This year, I had the time- and the results were interesting, to say the least. The card above went out to my dear friend Jimmy in San Diego- and I think it might be one of my favorites.

5. The Black Keys' new album, "El Camino": I have so much love for The Black Keys. I can say with all confidence that all of their songs are irresistibly gritty and catchy. Yes, all of them. The tracks off of their latest, "El Camino", are no different in terms of quality and badass-ery. I'm hooked. This album is perfect company for a long drive.

Speaking of, I'll be on a long drive come tomorrow morning when I head to NYC for the weekend. I'm still in the process of hastily packing my bag- so I'm off!

See you all when I get back!

xox

Notes From Newport

2011-12-06T23:22:00.002-05:00

I spent some time in Newport, Rhode Island with Sean this past Saturday. It's been a while since I've gone, and I'd nearly forgotten how unbelievably beautiful it is there- especially around Christmastime when it's all lit up and festive. The pictures I took simply don't do it justice.

We stopped by The Elms, but most of our afternoon and evening was spent walking along the ocean, driving around Bellevue Avenue, and exploring downtown- window shopping, taking in the scenery, and drinking peppermint hot chocolate (which very well could be one of my favorite holiday traditions)

This weekend I'll be partaking in my other favorite holiday tradition: driving around to find the most amazing Christmas decoration displays. When I was a kid, my parents would take me for long car rides every year so we could admire the festive handiwork and creativity of our neighborhood. These days, my friends and I like to keep the tradition alive.

I especially love to document the houses that have gone completely overboard when it comes to decorating for the holidays. This could be using enough blinking lights going at once that their home could be considered dangerous to epileptics, having every square inch of their lawn covered in those creepy, slow-moving animatronic decorations, or simply having WAY TOO MANY inflatables everywhere. Ideally, the perfect house would be a combination of all three.

I've already been clued in on a few locations that I need to check out. I'll be sure to share the results.

xo

Happy December?

2011-12-03T00:16:00.002-05:00

Hello! Don't let the pictures above fool you. Despite a very painful afternoon in the emergency room this past Wednesday, I'm fine. An unexpected and unexplainable panic attack, coupled with flu-like symptoms, caused a bit of a dizzy spell with some chest pains while I was at work- and I headed to the hospital just to make sure everything was okay.

To my relief, all of my vitals, blood work, and x-rays came back just fine, and I was told to take it easy, drink lots of fluids, and get plenty of rest for the next few days. I already feel a lot better than I did after I left the ER, save for the bruises on my arm where the nurse poked and prodded me to take blood. Ouch!

But on a more upbeat note (because hospital visits aren't exactly a fun topic of conversation)- I can't believe it's December already! I'm getting ready to set up my Christmas tree, finish up a couple of crazy, over-the-top homemade holiday cards for some friends on the West Coast (as has been the tradition for the past six or several years), and am shamelessly blasting Christmas music non-stop, like this- which is one of my absolute all-time favorite Christmas songs:

Perry Como's "There's No Place Like Home for the Holidays" is also one of my favorites:

SO GOOD.

And my beloved Killers boys, in another holiday tradition I can get behind 100%- released their annual Holiday single on the 1st. All proceeds from this year's track, "The Cowboy's Christmas Ball", go towards RED to help fight AIDS.

The song is pretty awful, I can't even deny it, but the video is too damned cute for words so I'm all about it- especially for such a good cause:

xx

"Our Father, who art in heaven..."

2011-11-28T19:28:00.000-05:00

Amen.

Also, I hope AMC is ready to pay for the grief counselor I'm going to need after the end of last night's mid-season finale. I don't think my health insurance will cover it.

Pre-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T12:41:00.001-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Festivities started a little early this year, what with Stef, Colee, & Co. having a "Pre-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving" party last week. It was really nice to get everyone together for an amazing meal, even though our table set-up looked a little "Last Supper"-ish.

One of my favorite things about holidays like Thanksgiving & Christmas is that it brings a lot of people closer to home. For example, last night Troy came home for the weekend. He's been living in New York City for the past eight months for work, and with the exception of a quick visit for his birthday a couple of weeks ago, I haven't really gotten to see him or spend time with him in a while.

Last night he took me to see "Immortals", which was absolutely terrible. So terrible, in fact, that hours later and I'm still a little baffled as to why everyone in Ancient Greece had bad New York accents.

I have family coming over within the hour for dinner, and then I'm supposed to be seeing the new "Muppets" movie (which I'm confident will NOT blow) with some friends- but there's still cooking and cleaning to be done, so I've got to cut this entry short.

Have a great holiday, everyone!

"It's a long journey, baby, and where it's gonna' take me just depends on the weight of my load."

2011-11-16T20:37:00.002-05:00

(All photographs by Chorale Miles)
This past weekend (11/11!) I made my long overdue return to the Boston nightlife/club scene, specifically to "Wonderland", which is a weekly party hosted by my good friends over at White Rabbit. As much as I hate Dubstep (seriously, how in the holy hell do you dance to that shit?)- it was really nice to see everyone for what felt like the first time in ages.

A lot of people have been asking how my father (who was recently diagnosed with liver cancer) is doing. I've said it before and I'll say it again- it means so, so, so, SO much to me and to my family how supportive and helpful everyone has been. Truly. I'm at a loss for words.

But here I am getting sidetracked. He's hanging in there (as much as he can, really). I recently went with him to support him during (and drive his very sedated ass home) following a series of tests, where I was blown away by how he managed to keep his sense of humor intact- even after getting a very painful biopsy.

You are a fucking WARRIOR, dad. I love you so much and I'm so proud of you.

Of course, all donations of prayers/good thoughts/loving vibes for my dad's swift (and painless) treatment and recovery are still being accepted. He can use as much as he can get right now.

I've got to go catch up on schoolwork, and then from there- I'm going to attempt to catch up on sleep since I've felt like more of a zombie than the ones on "The Walking Dead" (sans craving the taste of human flesh, of course) lately.

Thanks again, everyone!

'Til next time!

xx

Catching Up.

2011-11-06T13:38:00.003-05:00

I think it's safe to say we can disregard my previous post. Shortly after I last updated, New England got slammed with an overnight snow/ice storm that downed trees and power lines, damaging a significant amount of property and making roads extremely dangerous- and leaving a good chunk of Massachusetts without power for the better part of the past week.

As much fun as I was determined to have for Halloween weekend, going to a couple different parties and donning a couple of different costumes- I ended up curled up in bed watching horror movies instead- which was strangely relaxing.

Better luck next year, I suppose?

I still stand by my sentiment that Mother Nature can eat a bag of dicks, though.

Other than getting an unwanted preview of what this upcoming winter probably has in store for us, I've been busy with work and school (the usual!) lately, and now that we've kicked off November- I've added "preparing for the holidays and year end wrap-up" on the To-Do list. It's hard to believe that 2011 is going to be over in a little less than two months, considering it feels like it only just started!

In other news, we all know how much I love to play and experiment with new looks (within reason, of course)- and since I have no intention of ever changing my red hair (I love it THAT much), I opted to change my eye color instead. Ta-Da! I have green eyes now.

My new name, determined with help from some friends to match my new look, shall now be Ashley O'Malley Douglas McElizabeth.

Kidding, of course. My dear Steven, who is the most Irish guy I know- informed me that "Douglas" is actually a Scottish name, but since I love the Scots, too- I'm keeping it as is!

Today is all about running errands and getting ready for the upcoming week, though- so I've got to cut this short and head out for the day.

'Til next time!

xx

By the way, Stef lent me this book a while back and I'm just now getting around to reading it. It's hysterical. I don't think I'm going to want to give it back when I'm done.

I hope there's a movie adaptation of it.

This is Halloween?

2011-10-29T22:23:00.002-04:00

(Image from Tumblr)
I'm still a little stunned about today's snowstorm. I can't remember a time, if there ever was one since I've been around, where we got anything more than a light dusting BEFORE Halloween. What the hell is that about?

Mother Nature can eat a bag of dicks. She's interfering with my Halloween weekend plans and that is just unacceptable.

Regardless, I'm determined to trek through the few inches we got today and have a good time. I hope everyone else does too!

Pumpkin Spice

2011-10-25T21:03:00.000-04:00

Since we had so much fun last year, me, Stef, Colee, and their friend Alex headed down to Roger Williams Park Zoo for their annual jack-o-lantern exhibit this past Sunday night. As usual, all of the pumpkins were beyond impressive and creative. The exhibit is extended 'til November 6th, so if you're in the area there's still plenty of time to see it for yourself. Bring your friends and make a night of it. We all had a blast!

Inspired- Stef, Colee, and myself decided to carve our own pumpkins last night. Of course, they didn't come out nearly half as good as the ones we saw at Roger Williams- but it was a lot of fun trying. Mine is on the right in the last photo. I HAVE DONE AN ART.

And in other news, that Betsey Johnson Spider Charm Cuff Bracelet from my last entry? The one I loved? It arrived today!

"Walk, Walk, Fashion, Baby."

2011-10-17T23:52:00.003-04:00

I think I'm still buzzing from all the excitement and energy that surrounded Betsey Johnson's Boston fashion show this past Saturday night. Between the knock-out wardrobe, the pink, well- everything- and getting a chance to pose on the catwalk myself- I had such a wonderful time!

The turn-out was unbelievable. I'm beyond thrilled that so many people came out to support and raise money for the South End Community Health Center's Breast Cancer Awareness Program.

The organization is still holding a contest for a chance to win a brand new Fiat in one of 9 colors. Raffle tickets are $50 a piece, with the proceeds going to benefit the Breast Cancer Awareness Program, of course. CLICK HERE TO ENTER.

The winner will be drawn on October 31st!

During the show, one of the last models to hit the runway was wearing a dress that I immediately fell in love with. We're talking "have to own it A.S.A.P." type of love, which I suppose is more lust than love- but who cares? It was too pretty for words! I took some time today to do a little research over at Betsey's website, and found it. Ladies and gentlemen, I present the Rosella Strapless Dress.

I also stumbled upon Betsey's limited edition Halloween inspired jewelry on the site, and even though I'm absolutely terrified of spiders- I would wear this Spider Charm Cuff Bracelet in a heartbeat. It's so unique.

I need to stop browsing for now, though. The temptation to go on a bit of a shopping spree is kicking in and I have to resist the urge!

On a non-fashion related note- HOLY SHIT at the season premiere of "The Walking Dead" last night! I don't think I ever yelled at my TV in surprise and/or horror more than I did during the last 40 seconds of the episode.

And Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) is a legit bad ass all-purpose utility hillbilly. Every time Rick and Shane said to split up, I'd be the first one shouting "I'm on Daryl's team!"

I suppose I can kiss my Sunday nights goodbye again. Thanks a lot, AMC.

xo

Just your typical Friday night...

2011-10-15T13:29:00.002-04:00

... You know, just getting life lessons from Gary Busey. The usual.

Busey was actually one of many fun people I encountered last night when me and my booooooooooooo Mike stopped by the annual Rock And Shock Convention in Worcester. This year marks my third year attending after an awesome time meeting George Romero in 2010 and the most epic night ever in 2009.

Mike got the opportunity to meet Freddy Krueger himself, Mr. Robert Englund, who despite having one of the longest lines of people waiting to see him that I'd ever seen at Rock And Shock before, took time with each fan for autographs, photos, questions, etc. He was a really, really nice guy.

One of the definite highlights of the night was confronting my fears- specifically Kip Weeks, who played the silent, masked tormentor in "The Strangers". I can't remember if I mentioned it on this blog before, I probably have at some point- but "The Strangers" gave me nightmares for a good two weeks after I saw it, or as I dramatically told Kip last night, "you ruined my life. You traumatized me FOR LIFE."

The thing about "The Strangers" was that it wasn't about some over-the-top unstoppable serial killer or monster, or about some haunted house with a ghost holding a grudge- it was just about a couple that is terrorized and brutalized by three masked assailants for no other reason than for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. It was realistic, and therefore WAY scarier, and left you with a feeling of dread when it was over.

Also, watching Dennis from "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" (Glenn Howerton) accidentally get his head blown off was really, really upsetting. Spoiler Alert?

Kip was a sweetheart, and very not-scary-or-threatening at all in person- which will hopefully make it easier to keep still in my seat when "The Strangers 2" comes out. He told me if I'm scarred by the sequel, I can always confront him again at the next Rock And Shock he attends and we can work out our differences.

(Image by SKULLebrities)
There were a series of artists, movie production companies, and clothing designers promoting their horror-related businesses as well during the convention. One in particular, that really caught my eye, was SKULLebrities, a clothing company that designs pretty self-explanatory t-shirts for men and women. I browsed their collection this morning and was more than amused. The story behind SKULLebrities is sweet one, too- in a morbid way. The designs aren't meant to insult or mock the celebrities pictured, but rather to pay homage to them.

I'm anxiously awaiting an Amy Winehouse one.

Overall, the night was a blast. I can't wait to go again next year!

Tonight I'm heading down to Tremont Street to attend the Betsey Johnson Fashion Show to benefit the South End Community Heath Center breast cancer prevention program. I love Betsey, who is a survivor of breast cancer herself, and I love her innovative punk-meets-frilly-princess designs. She'll be presenting her prêt-à-porter collection tonight, and I'm so excited- even moreso because it's for such a great cause!

And now I need to go tear apart my closet to find something to wear!

xo

Notes from the Weekend.

2011-10-14T00:39:00.002-04:00

This past weekend felt like the beginning of Summer all over again, with temperatures reaching the high 70s and low 80s, but the leaves on the trees have all turned shades of yellow, orange, and red- so it was a bit strange.

Regardless of the mindfuckery that is Mother Nature, the gang and I spent some quality time together- strolling and shopping on Newbury Street, grabbing coffee and cannolis at Cafe Vittoria in the North End, and watching the sun set from a blanket we laid out in the Common (where we were only accosted once by a group of shady looking teenagers who wanted to know if we were in the market for some pot. Awkward!)

This weekend also proved to be extra memorable when I made my return to my old stomping ground, The Comedy Studio, for the first time in over a year! Those of you who have read this blog from the beginning know how much I love and cherish the Boston comedy and music scenes. I've made so many amazing friends here throughout the years, all of whom are extremely talented, and I spent a considerable amount of my time in different comedy clubs and music venues, showing my support. I even briefly interned at The Comedy Studio about a year and a half ago while on my path to self-discovery.

When I decided to go back to school and started my job at the firm last Fall- a lot of the time I had previously dedicated to the comedians and musicians that became (and remain) part of my family was instead spent on homework and getting accustomed to my position.

It was wonderful to see familiar faces again, as well as meet some new ones who have already become friends. Sunday night, after a stellar lineup at the Studio, was spent catching up with old friends and getting to know some of the areas newest up and coming performers.

The night was made even more memorable by one of my dearest friends, Tom E., coming home to Boston for a visit from Texas, where he moved a little more than a year ago to pursue his career. It was so good to see him, and it was a joy to meet his absolutely stunning and sweet fiancé, Andrea. for the first time.

I've promised the troops I won't be a stranger, and I have no intention of disappearing from the scene for months again. I've successfully managed to balance out my schedule over the past year, and am looking forward to spending more time with the city's finest entertainers.

One thing I need to spend some time with now, though, is my pillow. I'm wiped!

xx

Legends of the Fall

2011-10-06T23:51:00.002-04:00

(Princeton, Massachusetts. Taken last weekend.)
Despite the past couple of weeks being a bit tumultuous, to say the least- I've managed to enjoy some of the beautiful scenery that comes with October in New England. I went for a drive through Princeton with some friends, and captured the images above. The leaves are in the process of changing colors, and I'm hoping to get some more pictures of them before they fall off the trees completely.

Last year, Stef & I visited the Davis Farmland Mega Maze. This past weekend, we headed back (with Sean in tow this time) to tromp through the mud and get lost for a couple of hours. My boots were pretty much ruined by the end of it, but it was worth it. We had a lot of fun.

I have some exciting stuff planned for this weekend, which will include a special guest appearance by a friend I haven't seen in over a year, but until then- I've got to get some rest before work in the morning!

xox

Autumn Playlist: 2011

2011-09-28T23:23:00.002-04:00

This past Friday marked the first day of Autumn, and just like last year, I've compiled a playlist of songs to blast while you're breaking out your best hoodie, going apple picking, or just crunching leaves under your feet.

Rather than simply create the collection on Playlist.com, though- I've made it available to download for a limited time. All songs are in .m4a format (iPod friendly!) and may appear out of order when downloaded. For that reason, I've included the tracklisting below to help your organize the songs in the order they're meant to be heard, if necessary!

So without further ado:

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

- TRACKLISTING -

The Magnetic Fields - You Must Be Out of Your Mind
Crystal Stilts - Converging in the Quiet
The Rapture - Out of the Races and Onto the Track
The Wildlife - Electric Slide
Gorillaz - On Melancholy Hill
Cold War Kids - Skip the Charades
The Stills - I'm With You
Adele - Someone Like You
The Vaccines - Family Friend

Enjoy!

The "C" Word.

2011-09-23T20:40:00.003-04:00

Upon first glance of the title of this entry, some people might assume I'm referring to the choicest of cuss words. The mother of all expletives. The word I typically save for the worst of the worst people (and those who really, really piss me off), but rest assured, the "C" word I'm talking about is not the c-dash-dash-t word that makes people gasp in horror when they hear it (or laugh, depending on their sense of humor).

The "C" word I'm talking about is "cancer".

All of us have been affected by cancer in some way, shape, or form. You may know someone who has/had it. You, or someone you know may have lost someone who had it. You may even have/had it yourself. My point is- it's everywhere, and what makes it the most ruthless of diseases is that it's terrible grasp is not limited to any specific age, gender, race, or social status. Anyone can develop it at any time. Cancer is not prejudice.

There is no easy way to put this, and even saying it, or typing it, feels unnatural and surreal to me, like it's part of a very bizarre, bad dream- but my father was diagnosed with liver cancer last week. Chemotherapy is not an option at this stage, and he needs to undergo a liver transplant within the next few months.

In the coming days, my dad will be seeing a series of Doctors and doing some preliminary tests. From there, it's a matter of finding a suitable donor for a transplant. I plan on having the required blood work done to see if I'm a match, and if so- I'll be going under the knife to give my dad a piece of my liver that I didn't completely destroy with booze in Vegas and San Diego a couple of weeks ago.

Fun fact: The liver can regenerate itself. Did you know that? Because I sure didn't! Apparently when my father receives the transplant, the cells in the piece they take from the donor and put in him will regenerate into an entirely new liver within a few weeks, and the donor will grow back what they lost in as little as four to five days! Fascinating stuff, right? I kept thinking of a starfish leg, or an iguana tail when I found out.

Of course, the news is naturally devastating- but the amount of love and support my family and myself have received from relatives, friends, and strangers alike is overwhelming and beyond helpful in keeping our spirits high as we prepare to face the challenges ahead together. To have people come forward and offer to donate part of their liver without ever being asked is huge. It's unbelievably huge. It means the world to us.

I speak for myself, and for my family when I say: thank you. All of you. I don't think words can properly convey our gratitude, but believe me- we appreciate it.

We're going to hope for the best and try to carry on as normal until this is all sorted. Until then, please continue to keep my father in your hearts, thoughts, prayers, good vibes, etc.

And so this entry isn't just a huge wall of text:

Accurate.

xox

Notes from the Weekend.

2011-09-12T20:28:00.002-04:00

This past weekend I headed up to Hampton Beach for their annual year-end festival. While I was there, I spent some time with my BFF Samantha Ryan, had some amazing seafood, and much like I did last year when I attended the festival, I stocked up on my soaps from Scentastics. I've been lathering up with the "Bartlett Pear" bar and I smell and feel divine.

Since the year-end festival is basically a mile long sidewalk sale where the stores along the boardwalk are pushing to get rid of the last of their inventory, I also managed to snag a super cute handbag, an equally super cute top, and a pair of sunglasses, among some other things- for really awesome prices.

I'm not sure how much longer the stores are going to remain open now that the season is over, but if you're in the area this week/weekend and are looking for some good deals- now's the time to go before Hampton shuts down for the winter!

Speaking of beach season being over, I'm in the process of fall-ifying my wardrobe (always fun to do. Fall is the best time for fashion), rotating out my Summer perfumes and candles around my place for more sweet, heavier scents- and putting together my Autumn 2011 Playlist. I'm looking forward to sharing it on here with all of you!

September 11th: Ten Years Later.

2011-09-11T00:41:00.001-04:00

With all of the coverage from news networks and social media sites surrounding the ten year anniversary of September 11th, I had second thoughts about adding to the mass influx of posts with my thoughts and memories of that day. I figured everything that could be said about such a horrific tragedy had probably already been said- and probably way more eloquently than I could ever pull off.

But then I found the pictures my father took in NYC on September 11th, 2001- when he was trying to get home after witnessing the second plane hit the South Tower of the World Trade Center from the George Washington Bridge.

And I decided I wanted to write afterall.

In ten years, American history has been divided into two time frames: pre-9/11 and post 9/11. It's strange to look back and think that there was once a time where the word "terrorism" was only used to describe things that just typically happened in other parts of the world, or that there was once a time where full body scans at airports weren't mandatory, or that there was once a time when our country didn't base our safety level on a color coded bar graph.

In September of 2001, I was fifteen years old and had just started my sophomore year of high school. I hated my math class with a passion, as it was by far my worst subject- and on September 11th I started my day there, in that dreaded math class, sitting front and center where my teacher had callously put me to make sure I would pay attention and not spend the period passing notes to my best friend at the time, Kristi.

We were reluctantly waiting to start our lesson for the day, which seemed to kick off later than usual, while our teacher stood in the doorway of the adjacent classroom, talking to another teacher- both of them looking concerned. After another few long moments, she took her usual spot in front of my desk and explained that a bomb had gone off in one of the World Trade Center towers in New York City, and if it was okay with us, she'd like to put the TV on to get more information.

Being teenagers in a small Massachusetts town and essentially naive to the world outside our own petty problems, our classroom seemed a bit relieved and dare I say, overjoyed- at the prospect of no math lessons that morning as we sat back to watch what was happening. Since talking to the teacher next door and flipping on the news, an anchor on CBS (I believe it was CBS) confirmed that it was not, in fact, a bomb- but an airplane that flew into the North Tower. "What a shitty pilot", David, the boy seated to my left, joked, as we watched the smoke billowing out of the North Tower.

My teacher, assuming the worst was over, went to walk back over to the TV to turn it off and begin our lesson when something caught our eye. A fast moving object on the screen flying towards the Twin Towers. An airplane. "Another plan---" I went to ask nobody in particular before a fireball exploded from the other tower. The news anchors went silent, as did our classroom. You could have heard a pin drop.

Teachers started coming in and out of the room, and it was the first time I'd ever heard "we're under attack" uttered outside of a war movie. Panic set in: Who could have done this? Why would they have done this? Were they done? Would they target anywhere else? How many people died?

It wasn't long after news reports confirmed a terrorist attack that our Dean of Students made an announcement over the school's PA system that our classes would continue as normal, and that teachers were allowed to keep their televisions on at their own discretion. Of course, every teacher opted to leave their television on- and shortly after leaving my math class to head into the next period, I overheard one of the shop teachers yell "they hit Washington, too!"- causing a stampede of students to run into the nearest classroom to see what was going on.

It was during my second and third period classes that I saw the towers fall. I don't remember the reactions of those around me- but I can guess they were similar to my own: shocked and horrified. I had made the decision to attend college in NYC the previous year, and to see two prominent figures in the skyline of a city I loved and was hoping to move to suddenly come crashing down was earth shattering.

I think part of me had hoped that the fires would somehow miraculously be put out, and that despite many casualties and a lot of structural damage- things would turn out okay. I never expected those towers to fall. My unyielding optimism is my own worst enemy sometimes.

Following the collapse of the World Trade Center, the rest of my school day was a blur. I remember watching recaps in every classroom: the planes hitting, the towers falling, people in Manhattan running, screaming, and crying- those trapped in the higher floors leaping to their deaths as it became harder and harder to breathe. I don't think it had processed fully when a news anchor confirmed the final crash in Pennsylvania. It all seemed surreal, like a bad dream.

When I came home, my mother confirmed that my father had been heading towards New Jersey for work when he saw everything- and was attempting to head home, of course with extreme difficulty as the city was being evacuated.

When he finally did get home, I don't think I'd ever hugged him so hard in my life.

I tell my story as an observer. I was fortunate enough not to lose anyone in the attacks- but my heart aches for those who did. In a matter of a couple of hours, close to 3,000 sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and friends were taken cruelly and prematurely from their loved ones- and the resulting wars from 9/11 have claimed, and continue to claim, even more unnecessary casualties.

And no amount of time, whether it be ten years or twenty years- will ever make it hurt less.

As we look back on the morning that took us from pre-9/11 to post-9/11 and changed the world, I hope those reading this remember that in the hours and days following September 11th, 2001- that this country joined together in patriotic pride to help one another mourn and make it through the darkness- and it is exactly that reason why America is one of the greatest nations in the world.

I also hope it reminds people that the actions of a few extremists in no way should reflect a religion or group of people who practice that religion as a whole. It kills me to see that Muslims are still being persecuted against by people who are still so confused and scared by what has happened that they cannot see past religion or ethnicity.

America might be in pretty rough shape right now, but I love this country. I love living here. I'm grateful to be here, and I know that we'll get through the hard times. We did ten years ago, and we'll do it again.

xo

Back to the Grind.

2011-09-08T22:49:00.003-04:00

The transition from vacation to getting back to work was pretty much instant, and coupled with the fact that I seem to have brought 40 days and 40 nights of rain to Massachusetts with my return- it's been a little rough getting back into the swing of things.

I had a lovely time. My trip started off with a brief stay in Las Vegas, where I spent a few hours (but it never feels like long enough!) with my dearest Kelsey (I LOVE YOU, GIRRRRRL. "Glaucoma, Gonorrhea, what's the difference? It's all the same"), Steven, and James, among others- on the strip and then later on at the Beauty Bar on Fremont Street.

Despite Vegas being the city of sin, I managed to behave myself during the short time I was there. I saved the debauchery for San Diego.

It's no surprise, especially after my last entry- that I'm completely smitten with San Diego and all the people I know there. I don't think there's enough space on the internet to hold all the love, praise, and thank you's I want to write to everyone who helped make my time there memorable.

Between a lovely picnic at the zoo with Duncan, a semi-wild (and pretty comical) night out on the town with my beloved friend Jimmy, and drinking, dancing, & laughing until it hurt with my twin Daniel and the always sensational Brian Karscig following The Nervous Wreckords performance at the "Great American Showcase" benefit show at El Dorado- I'm still buzzing. I do miss everyone terribly, but I'm looking forward to next time, which will hopefully be soon.

The next couple of days will be spent catching up on work, as well as getting my eating and sleeping habits back under control (since I stayed up all hours of the night and continuously raided Smashburger for their milkshakes and BBQ, Bacon & Cheddar burgers while I was away. OM NOM NOM).

That being said, I'm hoping to be in bed fairly early tonight!

Away I go!

Greetings from the Road.

2011-09-04T18:05:00.001-04:00

Hello from sunny, beautiful San Diego. I'm enjoying a couple hours of down time before I head back out for my last night on the town to see my lovely Nervous Wreckords perform a few blocks away. Come tomorrow morning, I'll be soaring high up in the air on my way back to Massachusetts.

It's always hard to leave a place you've grown to adore ever so much over the years (in my case, my love affair with San Diego began in 2007- the first time I ever traveled here), but the more I come here, the more my heart breaks every time it comes time to pack up my bag and head back to Boston. That heartbreak is hitting me especially hard today. I've been choking back tears on-and-off since this morning.

The general consensus from my friends out here, and even from people I met for the first time over the past few days- has been that I need to make the permanent move to SoCal. For the longest time my plan for my mere months away post-University life has been to eventually move to Las Vegas, but now I'm not so positive that's what I want. Surely the amount of joy and the overwhelming sense of feeling "at home" I experience whenever I'm here must mean something, right? I've never had that anywhere else. I've enjoyed other places. I've had fun in other places. I've thought other places were beautiful- but it's never been like this.

I feel like San Diego is where I belong.

It's not just the fact that so many of my friends are here, or because of the consistent beautiful weather, or the absolutely AMAZING music and art scene. There are other reasons weighing heavily on my consideration to move here. Reasons I won't divulge into right now.

But the decision doesn't have to be made right this second. I still have so much unfinished business back in Boston that I need to tend to before I can even think about packing up and heading out West for good.

The only decision I have to make right now is what shoes I'm going to wear to this show tonight. I have to get going!

See you all back on the East Coast.

xoxo

Me, Some Friends & Irene

2011-08-29T00:16:00.005-04:00

After losing power for almost several hours and having a few things on the back porch get blown over, I'm relieved to say that Hurricane Irene left no serious damage in her wake as she passed over us yesterday. I know a lot of people got slammed way worse with debris, flooding, etc. so I'm beyond grateful that the day went by without incident.

I passed the time catching up on some reading and enjoying some general laziness until my electricity came back on- and then it was time to get back to preparing for the coming week.

The pictures above are from Saturday night's "Pre-Hurricane Fondue Party", which despite my never making fondue before- turned out surprisingly easy and delicious. I learned one culinary trick that I will take with me forever: when you're not sure about the taste, just add a ton of grated cheddar cheese. Always works. So much fun.

I head out to California & Las Vegas soon. I'm going to attempt to update from the road if and when I have some down time, but if I don't- I'll see you all when I get back!

Lots of love,

xo
Ashley

Apocalypse Now

2011-08-27T13:23:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone- wild natural disasters we're having here on the East Coast, although the 5.8 earthquake that briefly (VERY briefly) shook Virginia, NYC, and parts of New England the other day can hardly be considered a "disaster".

My friends on the West Coast poked fun at how dramatic people here reacted to the tremble, and it wasn't long before things like THIS popped up. Prayer circle, guys! We need a prayer circle!

However, Hurricane Irene seems to pose a greater danger to those along the East Coast, so while I have some time inbetween charging electronics in case of power outages and bringing any belongings outside that are capable of blowing away in high speed winds, I wanted to take some time to tell everyone in the areas expected to be hit the hardest to please be prepared and stay safe!

The storm isn't stopping my dinner plans for the evening tonight, though. A group of friends and myself are getting together for a little "Pre-Hurricane Fondue" before I head out to the West Coast (hopefully without delays)

xx

And just because there's never been a more appropriate time to post this:

Mini Golf, Clams, and Catching a Glimpse of the Future

2011-08-22T22:56:00.003-04:00

I get pretty competitive when it comes to sports (as evidenced by my past Super Bowl-related entries where I bet money on a team and then feverishly rooted for them to the point of obnoxiousness)- so this past weekend was nothing short of intense when I headed up to New Hampshire, specifically Chucksters (I know, I know, laugh it up) for some mini golf with my cousin Paige.

After completely annihilating the competition with a hole in one, it was off to the Clam Haven in Derry for some artery clogging goodness. Since I've been eating healthy for as long as I have- it was nice to cheat and treat myself a little. Om nom nom.

After lunch, we headed down to the boardwalk at Hampton Beach for a couple of hours, where we found this guy on the floor in one of the arcades. I considered it fate since I love the Sox and took him home, where he is now proudly on display in my bedroom.

While at the beach, I had my palm read. Some people are skeptical about fortune telling, and in a lot of cases, I am too- but the women at Hampton have been there since my parents were young, and the past couple of times I've had it done- they've been eerily accurate and consistent- without me offering any type of personal information for them to base anything on. I'm not talking about the typical, vague "you care about someone very deeply, you want more out of life, blah blah blah" generic bullshit that fits pretty much everyone- I'm talking about really specific, personal stuff.

I digress, what the palm reader told me about my past and my personality was spot-on, and something I'm keeping to myself- but I will say that what she predicted for me in my future sounds wonderful, if it is true. I'm quite looking forward to it- as well as looking forward to the journey that will take me there.

Overall it was a good weekend. This week I'm wrapping up some things at work before I head out to the West Coast for my vacation, and trying to begin the process of packing early so I'm not left staying up late, scrambling, and ultimately forgetting things the night before I fly out.

We'll see how that goes.

xx

Late Night Updates.

2011-08-19T00:03:00.001-04:00

Last weekend I stopped by Stef & Co. apartment for what I dubbed the "God Damnit, Summer is Almost Over" cookout. It was nice seeing everyone, as well as meeting a few new, very fun people. The food was good, I had my very first pumpkin beer (which was delicious), and afterwards- we had an impromptu dance party in Stef's living room until it started getting late and some of us started to head home for the night.

Nights like that make me wish it would stay Summer forever.

My cousin Paige is staying with me for the next few days for a visit before she heads back to school. We're having ourselves a night of retail therapy later on today, and then tomorrow we're heading up to New Hampshire for a while. Should be fun!

'Til then, I've got to work in the morning.

Ciao!

It's 11:57 p.m.

2011-08-16T23:57:00.001-04:00

And the hills are alive with the sound of music.

With songs they have sung for a thousand years.

Notes from the Editor

2011-08-09T21:59:00.002-04:00

(Image from Tumblr)
Every year I like to make a post like this, where I touch base with everyone and sort of summarize what's been happening lately, both with myself and with this blog.

It's hard to believe it's August already. It feels like just yesterday I was ringing in 2011 in New Hampshire with Samantha. It's true that time flies when you're having fun, and apparently also when you're working hard- both of which apply to myself at the moment. Work has been a whirlwind as Summer dies down and our firm prepares for the end of the year crunch (I was just getting onboard at the office roughly this time last year, so at least I'm prepared!), and like last Summer- I've been participating in Summer law courses through my University.

The free time I do have inbetween work, classes, and completing assignments is spent enjoying the outdoors as much as possible before Autumn begins. I'm hoping to get in a couple more trips to the beach before it gets too chilly, as well as a day trip to Six Flags to ride roller coasters until I'm ready to throw up (as is tradition, of course)

I had mentioned a couple of entries ago that I was also planning a vacation for the end of this month/beginning of September, and as the final preparations are being completed, I'm pleased to share that I'll be taking over both Las Vegas & San Diego as part of a mini road trip in the coming weeks. I'm very excited- especially to see some of my dearest friends again. It's always such a treat to be in the company of such wonderful West Coasters.

Of course, amidst all of these plans- I haven't forgotten this blog. If you're a frequent visitor, you may have noticed that the layout and some of the links have changed over the past couple of weeks. As far as the commenting feature goes- I know it's been a while since I said it would be fixed, and please know I'm still working on it. Unfortunately there are still a lot of spambots on Blogger, and until I can figure out how to NOT be bombarded with offers to make my penis size bigger or to try a trial for cheap Botox, and how to make sure people who comment with Blogger accounts won't be subjected to the same ridiculous advertisements- I ask that you keep being patient!

In my last "NftE" post, I had expressed interest in adding audio/video posts to this blog, specifically to shine the spotlight on some of the bands and artists I'm enamored with. That idea was unfortunately (and temporarily) put on the back burner due to my schedule in the weeks, and consequently, months, following the entry- but thankfully, it's possible yet again! And even better? I've got some kickass artists on board! I can't wait to get started.

In other, more somber news- London has always been one of my favorite places. I have so many fond memories from the time I spent there, which is why I’m absolutely sick to my stomach about what’s happening there right now. People's homes are being destroyed, businesses owned by hard-working individuals are being ransacked- and citizens are beating the hell out of each other- and for what? For an XBox? For some new sneakers and some cosmetics? Whatever message was underlying the initial protest that led to this travesty in the first place has been lost in the selfish, cowardly actions of criminals. Yes, these people rioting and looting are CRIMINALS- not revolutionaries, not anarchists. They are destroying their own communities, and once the dust has settled- they will have no one to blame for the inevitable resulting economic hardships except themselves.

To my friends and loved ones who are there right now: please be safe and please stay in contact. Let those of us in America know you’re alright and out of harm’s way.

To those observing this madness from afar, like I am: please don’t let a few shitty and destructive people taint your view of the entire city. London is beautiful, and filled with wonderful people who deserve better than this.

Stay safe tonight, England.

Also, someone pointed me in the direction of Catch A Looter, which like a similar website set up shortly after Vancouver's recent riots- helps identify and locate participants in the chaos who weren't paying attention as cameras were rolling.

If you're in or around the affected areas- it could help to take a look and see if you recognize any of the faces posted!

I want my MTV.

2011-08-01T23:25:00.001-04:00

This concept might be hard for people considerably younger than I am to understand, but believe it or not- there was once a time when MTV wasn't all about "Jersey Shore" or glorifying sixteen year olds making terrible decisions (like getting knocked up and dropping out of high school). There was a time when MTV wasn't one neverending reality show.

There was a time when MTV was actually cool- and actually about music!

30 years ago today, MTV launched, and quickly built it's reputation for being the go-to channel for the latest music and groundbreaking music videos.

The network did, of course, take a break from airing music videos non-stop 24/7 to introduce us to the shows that have since become a nostalgic memory: "Remote Control", "Beavis & Butthead", "Liquid Television", "Singled Out", and "Daria", just to name a few.

As a kid, I grew up on MTV. Home videos of me as a toddler show me bouncing in front of my parents' television set, a Guns N' Roses, Dire Straits, or Pet Shop Boys music video playing on MTV in the background. Halloween was always celebrated by watching MTV's annual airing of Michael Jackson's "Thriller" special (in which I would try to mimic Michael's moves- much to my mother's amusement). I remember hearing the news of Kurt Cobain, Tupac, and Notorious B.I.G.'s deaths from MTV. When my parents bought me my first very own TV- I would sneak in episodes of "Beavis & Butthead", a show they disapproved of, which made it all the more funny to me- and right before my pre-teens, I would spend Summer afternoons watching No Doubt or Radiohead perform at MTV's Summer Beach House- a destination I dreamed about going to until I was old enough to realize that being around a bunch of drunken fraternity guys and sorority girls was not exactly my idea of a good time.

My point being, MTV was always a fixture in my childhood and adolescence. It was always new, hip, exciting, and informative.

This past weekend, VH1 Classic celebrated MTV's anniversary by re-playing non-stop compilations of some of the network's most defining, funniest, and poignant moments. Yes. VH1 did MTV the honors. MTV played a "Jersey Shore" marathon instead.

Obviously, MTV is no longer what it was, and probably never will be the same again- and I view the network the same way I would view an old relationship: It's been fun, we've had some good times and made some good memories, I wish you all the best- but it's time to move on.

While discussing favorite MTV moments- Nirvana's episode of "Unplugged", specifically their cover of David Bowie's "The Man Who Sold The World" seemed to rank high on a lot of lists, including mine. I think this is a beautiful way to wrap up this post of nostalgia for an era gone by.

Fight Night.

2011-07-30T18:07:00.000-04:00

Last night I sat ringside with my co-worker, Priscilla, and some friends to watch my first professional boxing match at Mohegan Sun Casino. Big thanks to my boss for the tickets. We had a blast.

After watching a few pretty intense fights and a couple of TKOs, the big moment of the night came during the main event for the WBC International Heavyweight Title when Poland's Mariusz Wach knocked out Kevin McBride (who retired Mike Tyson in 2005) in the fourth round. McBride was out cold for a while and had to be taken out on a stretcher. It was insane.

Apart from the boxing match, enjoying the nice weather while I can, and seeing the last Harry Potter movie (which was phenomenal, by the way)- I've been almost entirely pre-occupied with work over the past couple of weeks, as well as with planning a little vacation for the end of August/beginning of September (details coming soon)

'Til then, I hope everyone is enjoying their Summer as much as I am!

xo

"We only said goodbye with words..."

2011-07-23T23:57:00.000-04:00

I am absolutely heartbroken, but sadly not too surprised to hear the news of Amy Winehouse's death. I'm a big fan ("Back To Black" is a flawless album, start to finish), and I was hoping she would get clean and healthy, put out another album- and make a comeback.

Such a waste of a tremendous gift.

Addiction is a terrible, terrible thing.

Rest In Peace.

I hope people remember Amy for performances like this, and for her raw, soulful, and undeniable talent- and I hope her legacy isn't overshadowed by the demons she ultimately couldn't defeat in the end.

And for those who think Amy's death is somehow overshadowing the unbelievable tragedy that took place in Norway, and that those lives lost in a gruesome act of terrorism are more important, I say this: not one person's life is more important or more valuable than another person's life. Every life is precious, and every death deserves to be honored and respected. People DO have the capacity to feel grief for more than one thing at the same time. My heart aches for Norway and their tremendous loss, and it also aches for Amy's family, friends, and fans.

Ear Candy

2011-07-22T00:24:00.003-04:00

Every few years, starting typically during the Summer, the music planets align- and there is a solid season of great tours, kick-ass festival lineups, new releases, and fun music videos from steady favorites and emerging artists alike.

The last time I can recall experiencing a whirlwind season of musical perfection was 2005-2006. The Killers, Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, Kasabian, Bloc Party, and so many more who I hold near and dear, took me, and the world- by storm. My days and nights were spent dancing in New York City and singing along at the top of my lungs in London- catching shows, listening to albums over and over until I thought the CDs would melt (The good 'ol pre-iPod days), and staying up 'til the wee hours of the morning to catch music videos that were innovative and inspiring.

Prior to that, it was 2001-2002, when The Strokes, Interpol, The White Stripes, Ryan Adams, The Hives, The Libertines, stellastarr*, and again- so many others- kicked open the doors with guns a-blazing and shook up the scene- seemingly overnight. I was 15/16 at the time, and that season of music, art, and fashion changed my life forever.

I digress. We've been a little overdue for a musical Renaissance, which is why I'm so excited to share some of the acts & videos to watch this Summer- made easier than it was in the past thanks to YouTube- that are sparking the 2011-2012 concert season- a highly-anticipated breath of fresh air.

First up, of course, are my beloved Arctic Monkeys. What can I say about these guys that I haven't said a million times over the past couple of years on this blog? They're remarkable, talented, and absolute darlings. Watch their latest video for "The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala" and be sure to catch them on their next North American tour this fall.

Some of you might remember my first, and very fun introduction to The Vaccines back in May in which I was instantly smitten. These guys are awesome, both on stage and off- and they're back on tour this Summer through the Fall!

Killers' drummer and all around badass, Ronnie Vannucci, has his own solo project, Big Talk, out on the road for a couple of West Coast shows to promote their self-titled album (available now.) I'm liking it so far. It's a little strange seeing Ronnie fronting the group after watching him going crazy in the back of the stage on the drums for so many years- but he's definitely got the charisma. I'm hoping he adds a couple of East Coast dates soon before we sink into the Arctic Tundra again over here.

Years ago, my best friend & partner in crime, Miss Samantha Ryan, got me into the British band, Milburn- led by Joe Carnall. Milburn broke up some time after Sam and I managed to catch them at Reading/Leeds Festival in 2006, and Joe went onto The Book Club- who are BRILLIANT. Mindblowing. Truly. Their new album, "Death in the Afternoon", comes out in a few days on the 25th- and you can hear some of it HERE.

Well shit, I had to add 'em. This song, "Expensive Love", is catchy as hell. This is Vicky Cryer. Fronted by Jason Hill of Louis XIV (somewhere, Samantha just perked up), and featuring Alex Carapetis, The Killers' Mark Stoemer, and Dominic Howard from Muse (seriously)- Vicky Cryer are just the right amount of sleaze and grit you'd expect from a band fronted by the notorious Hill- but damn, I can't help but bounce along to it.

And lastly, let me introduce you all to Transfer, a really awesome band from San Diego who first caught my attention when they opened for Brandon Flowers on a leg of his recent "Flamingo" tour. I really dig their sound, and it needs to be said that they're really, really nice guys. Being thrust into the world of the overenthusiastic Killers/Brandon fans can be intimidating, if not downright terrifying sometimes- but these guys have continued to be friendly and funny. I'm not sure who's behind their Twitter account, or if it's a collective group effort- but any band who can withstand my style of humor limited to 140 characters or less is a band worth mentioning on here. Kudos, guys. Never change!

And there you have it! Those are just a few of the acts leading us into the next season of musical utopia.

Got an artist you think I should add? That's what e-mail is for!

xox

Notes from the Weekend

2011-07-14T21:22:00.002-04:00

Hey all! I'm not dead, but I came pretty close to it over the weekend after I caught a severe case of heatstroke following an all-day beach excursion at Singing Beach in Gloucester. I ended up fainting on Monday morning, and consequently missed 1 1/2 days of work while I recovered from dehydration and the most painful sunburn I've ever experienced in my life that covered over 90% of my body. I'm still pretty red, but thankfully not as sore as I was on Monday and Tuesday:

The sunblock. It did nothing! NOTHING!

Everyone has been super nice and helpful, both during the time I was temporarily immobilized and now that I'm bracing myself for the itchy, peely, grosser part of this transition from "Pretty & Pasty" to "Semi-Bronze Goddess"- whether it be calling/messaging me to check-in, offering tips and tricks to help speed up my recovery, making sure I had plenty of fluids and stayed cool, or in the case of my absolutely lovely co-worker, Priscilla- loading me up with plenty of post-sunburn goodies:

From left to right:

- Mocha Latte Lip Gloss
- Scentbug Fragrance Jar
- Pocketbac Sanitizing Hand Gels
- True Blue Spa After-Sun Moisturizer

All from Bath & Body Works.

So awesome.

Lesson has been re-learned from all of this: ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS wear a high level SPF and re-apply it FREQUENTLY. I had a blast swimming in the ocean and riding waves back to the shore- but next time I will definitely be more prepared and more sun-smart!

xo

If I can be serious for a moment...

2011-07-05T23:51:00.004-04:00

Working for and with the law, as well as studying it intently for school- I've been taught and trained to follow the key principle that everyone, no matter what the crime is, is innocent until proven guilty, and that everyone deserves their day in court when trying to maintain that innocence.

I won't lie- it's unbelievably hard to keep and focus on that principle when all circumstantial evidence (and a gut feeling) tell you that a person is, in fact, guilty. Such was the case in the Casey Anthony trial, a three-year media frenzy that came to a disappointing and disgraceful end today when Casey Anthony was found not guilty on all serious charges in relation to the alleged murder and disposal of her two year old daughter, Caylee, back in 2008.

Despite not reporting her daughter missing for 31 days. Despite her behavior in the weeks following Caylee's "disappearance", such as dancing on top of bars and renting movies with her boyfriend at the time. Despite her callous and selfish attitude in jail when concerned friends and family visited her and questioned her on Caylee's whereabouts. Despite the forensic evidence pointing towards her as the prime suspect. Despite there being a plausible motive backed by technological evidence, such as Google searches on her home computer for how to make chloroform, or how to break a neck. Despite leading law officials on a wild goose chase when searches for Caylee first began. Despite a history of lying and deceit- Casey Anthony will be a free woman in just a few short days. A pathological lying sociopath, and the only person who holds the answer as to what really happened to Caylee- can rejoin society without a care in the world.

And an innocent two year old will never play again, or go to kindergarten, or go on her first date, or dress up for prom, or graduate college, or get married and have children of her own. A baby was robbed of the chance to live a full and happy life in 2008- and in 2011 she was denied the justice she deserved.

Even if first degree murder wasn't proven without a reasonable doubt by the State of Florida, how and why does a woman who fails to report her child missing for a month NOT get some sort of child abuse/child neglect charge brought against them?

I think the most deplorable and despicable thing about this verdict was the way the Defense team were celebrating after court: dancing and drinking at a nearby bar, toasting their victory and completely dishonoring the memory of a child who was murdered and left to decompose in a swamp. But hey, they have a nice fat paycheck and media deals to worry about, right? Jose Baez is a disgrace to attorneys, and to fathers, husbands, and men everywhere.

Things like this trial and it's verdict make it hard for me to continue on my journey in the legal system. It's definitely disheartening, but the prospect of righting the wrongs someday helps keep me going.

There are so many abused and neglected children in the world, and just as many who have been killed senselessly. As a woman who would like to have children of my own someday, this breaks my heart. Perhaps what made Caylee Anthony so captivating wasn't just that she was a beautiful child, but the mysterious circumstances surrounding her death, or the baffling behavior of her mother before, during, and after her daughter's disappearance and consequential discovery of her remains. Or maybe it's because this case hit close to home. The Anthony's could be your neighbors. They could be your friends. They could be YOUR family. They were a seemingly happy, loving, middle class family- and then something like this happened and shattered the illusion of a picture-perfect household.

This case brought the issue of child abuse back to the front burner for the world to see. It didn't just happen in broken homes or within any specific demographic. It could, and was happening right around the corner. It was happening down the street. It was happening next door. In suburbia. That fact alone is terrifying.

If we take anything from this senseless tragedy, let it be the strength to help children when those who SHOULD be protecting them cannot or will not do it. Let it be the courage to NOT turn a blind eye when we suspect a child is being mistreated or abused, and let it be the ability to show and teach the children in our lives that the world doesn't have to be a bad place and that they will not be neglected, forgotten, unloved, or discarded.

That would be the ultimate way to honor Caylee Anthony.

USA. USA. USA.

2011-07-04T15:17:00.000-04:00

I've been dying to post that.

Happy 4th of July, America!

Who the %$#@ is Ashley Elizabeth?

2011-06-30T01:02:00.005-04:00

Not to toot my own horn here, but in recent months this blog has experienced a bit of growth in popularity. I apparently have quite a few new readers, which proves for quite a few new interesting questions in my inbox, or instant messages when I occasionally sign on AIM (My username is "AClockworkAshley", for those who didn't know. Feel free to message me if you see me online!), and since it's been a little over two years and a lot has changed since my earliest entry where I first introduced myself- I thought I'd give everyone a more up-to-date look into the life of the very grateful and surprisingly normal (at least I'd like to think so) author of "The Girl With The Curls", formerly titled "lost in inebriation".

Some readers were brought here by other sites. Some readers were brought here because I apparently pop up when you do a search for Brandon Flowers of The Killers (for reasons unknown. Pun definitely intended. Boom.) And still other readers came here on their own- either as friends, family, or as curious kittens from the rumor mill (I've been told I have a bit of a reputation among fans of certain bands that shall not be named).

I thought I'd re-introduce myself to those just joining in on the fun.

I'm Ashley Elizabeth. I'm 25, and I'm from lovely Boston, Massachusetts with duel-citizenship in Las Vegas, Nevada. I hope to eventually relocate to Sin City permanently. I'm a part-time student working to obtain my Associate's Degree in Paralegal Studies (I graduate next Spring) and I work full-time as a Legal Assistant at a personal injury & criminal law firm- a job I absolutely love. I also have the occasional modeling or acting gig here and there.

When I'm not working or studying, I love to travel, go to shows (I love any and all types of music), watch terrible B-rated movies, go on urban exploration adventures, take pictures of everything and anything, tool around on the internet, spend time with my awesome friends and equally awesome parents, meet new people, see new places, and learn & try new things.

And now that we have that boring couple of paragraphs out of the way, here are links to all my active social networking sites. Feel free to add me/follow me!

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ashleyelizabeth
Personal Twitter [private]: http://www.twitter.com/ashleyelizabeth
Blog Twitter [public]: http://www.twitter.com/ashlizblogfeed
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/ashleyelizabeth
Tumblr: http://www.aclockworkashley.tumblr.com
There are probably a few more prehistoric ones out there, like MySpace and Flickr, but the ones I linked to above are the ones I use most frequently.

I had originally collected, sorted, and was planning on answering some of the questions that have been accumulating in my inbox for this entry, but there were a lot about who I was dating, if anyone- and I thought I would wait until I had more of a variety so it wouldn't be too repetitive or boring.

So keep 'em coming, new readers- and welcome to the madness!

xoxo

Notes from the Weekend

2011-06-21T00:54:00.000-04:00

I have never in my life seen so many people crowded in one area all at once like I did on Saturday morning when I headed down to the Bruins Celebration Parade. As it turns out, the attendance was recorded at well over a million spectators. The crowds were MASSIVE. I was stunned. People as far as the eye could see, all wearing black & yellow and all in good spirits.

I started off where the parade began: The Garden, and once the duckboats carrying the players and the Stanley Cup went by, myself and a few other (see: about 400+) enthusiastic people decided to jog alongside the entire route all the way to Copley Square to get the full parade experience. Yes, jog. Totally worth the near heat exhaustion, though. I think I speak for everyone when I say we had a great time. By the end of it, I was covered in confetti, my ears were ringing from the sounds of Vuvuzela horns, and my hands were bright red from being high-fived at random by all sorts of pumped up people.

At one point, Sean and I were heading back towards Charlestown, where he had parked his car due to the influx of traffic for the parade, and happened to pass by the Garden again. There were a few fans around that had gone to take some final pictures and rest in the shade. While walking, I suddenly heard an uproar of people chanting "MVP! MVP! MVP!" and then a few moments later, the B's Tim Thomas came out. He stopped to hug and high-five a few fans before heading to his car with his family. It was unexpected, and really, really cool.

After the initial surprise wore off, Sean and I continued on towards Charlestown, which is one of my favorite parts of the city. It's so old fashioned and pretty there. Along our way, we were walking up some side streets and enjoying the beautiful weather when we stumbled upon my dream home, tucked away near some business buildings:

I had to snap a picture of it. It was PERFECT. I love houses like that!

On Sunday, I went to my parents' house to visit for Father's Day. We had a little cookout, I washed my father's ridiculously huge SUV (I can't reach the roof without a stepladder, but maybe I'm just short) as a present for the day, and afterwards I took both him and my mom out for ice cream. Very laid back, very relaxing.

A lot of people were sharing pictures of themselves with their fathers over the weekend. My mother has most, if not all the pictures of me and my dad together, but I do have this one taken on Abbey Road a few years ago when we visited London:

It's actually one of my favorite photos of us.

'Til next time!

Bruins & Boogies!

2011-06-16T22:03:00.001-04:00

(Thanks to Boston.com for the images!)
Firstly, HUGE congratulations to the Boston Bruins for bringing the Stanley Cup back home! Game 7 was such a blast to watch, and the sense of excitement and happiness that washed over the city following the B's victory was indescribable.

I think that's one of the things I love most about Boston. There is such a sense of unity and camaraderie when it comes to our sports teams. All of our teams have taken home championships, which in itself is pretty cool- and even if you're not that into sports (and I've met quite a few people around here who aren't)- it's almost impossible not to get pulled into the frenzy of rooting for our guys when it's down to the wire. It's just so much fun!

Of course, we've had our moments where some people, usually a small, select group of people who are determined to cause trouble or start mayhem regardless of the outcome of the game, take post-victory celebrations a little TOO far- much like the rioters did in Vancouver last night following the Canucks' loss.

And much like those past embarrassing situations that arose in Boston, we hope that people don't generalize an entire city or fanbase based on the incredibly stupid and dangerous actions of a few.

In other words: please don't judge Vancouver as a whole or think poorly of Canadians because of last night's pandemonium. I wish everyone there a speedy cleanup, recovery of stolen goods, and swift justice to those who escalated and ruined what should have been a peaceful night.

Moving on! Back in April when I was in Las Vegas, I met, and quickly enlisted the aid of a lovely guy named Daniel from The Nervous Wreckords in helping me find my friend Steven, who I had been separated from during the course of the night at the after-party for their House Of Blues gig with Brandon Flowers.

Daniel, as it turns out, is my long lost twin (we have the same hair and like the same stuff- which I've automatically taken as a sign that there was some sort of mix-up at birth), and when he's not busy being my long lost twin or playing in the Wreckords, he's being multi-talented in his other project, Ugly Boogie.

Last night Daniel linked me to Ugly Boogie's album, "Stone to Flesh" so I could check it out. The only way I can describe the sound, and Daniel helped me find the words, is "gypsy bluegrass". Think Gogol Bordello with a bit of twang to it. Truly dance-able and fun. I enjoyed listening to it tremendously. So much, in fact- that I'm linking it here to share with all of you!

CLICK TO LISTEN
CLICK TO LISTEN
CLICK TO LISTEN
CLICK TO LISTEN
CLICK TO LISTEN
So far my favorite tracks are "Hollow Bones" and "Shadows". They make me want to twirl around really fast.

If anyone living in or around the San Diego area has a chance to see Ugly Boogie live, I'd highly recommend it. Twirl extra hard and extra fast for me!

And say hi to Daniel. He's a sweetheart.

xo

Notes From Monday

2011-06-15T00:56:00.002-04:00

This past Monday night, my friend, and my good friend Sean's boyfriend, Paulo, came home from France. He's been studying and working abroad since last August.

Sean didn't anticipate him coming home for at least another few days, so Paulo and I concocted a plan to surprise him by having Paulo show up at our usual hangout off of Mass Ave and sneak up on Sean while I distracted him.

The plan went off perfectly- and the remainder of the evening after the initial shock wore off was wonderful. It's so good to have Paulo home! We really missed him.

Also, I'm not really into hockey- but it's really hard not to get swept up in Bruins Fever around here. Everyone is buzzing for Game 7 later on tonight, myself included. Regardless of the outcome, whether the Bruins win or lose, please stay safe tonight, everybody! No celebratory/angry rioting!

xo

Things I'm Lovin'.

2011-06-12T15:09:00.001-04:00

1. Chanel Nail Color in "Mimosa": The color yellow is really, really hard to pull off- especially if you're like me and you're on the paler side, with bright red hair, in which case yellow is a color to avoid completely.

The problem is, I actually like the color yellow, especially in the Summer. So needless to say, I was pretty excited when Chanel released their limited edition "Mimosa" nail color. FINALLY, a way to wear yellow without looking like I'm radioactive.

Plus, I do love me some mimosas. Definitely a way to add a little kick to Sunday brunch.

The color is less fluorescent or neon as it is a warm sunny color. Example:

(Source: Karla Sugar)
So pretty!

2. Inappropriate Stabler!: I was pretty sad to hear that Christopher Meloni was leaving "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit", a show I've been a fan of for many years now. The Elliot Stabler character pretty much made the whole show.

There's always syndication to get my fix of anger management issues, insane storylines, and witty one-liners- and now there's the "Inappropriate Stabler" Tumblr, too! I seriously cannot stop cracking up at these things.

3. Clinique's Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 15: I don't like wearing liquid foundation in the Summer. I'm outdoors a lot, and when the temperatures rise and I'm in the sun- liquid foundation tends to slide right off of me. I like powder foundations, especially the mineral ones- but this year I wanted to opt for something that could give me an oil free boost of moisture and some sun protection.

Enter my friend and former manager, Felicia- from Clinique- who introduced me to their latest tinted moisturizer. The formula is lightweight, it doesn't make me look shiny or too made-up, but it covers any freckles or imperfections I want to hide before I step out. It makes my skin feel really, really good, too! I love it!

4. "Go The Fuck To Sleep" by Adam Mansbach: A book for exhausted parents everywhere- this is the type of present I'd give someone at a baby shower.

An excerpt:

"The cats nestle close to their kittens.
The lambs have laid down with the sheep.
You're cozy and warm in your bed, my dear
Please go the fuck to sleep."

I don't even have kids, and I can relate to this book. If only this existed back when I was a teenager and used to baby-sit the neighborhood children.

Beach Bunnies.

2011-06-06T00:58:00.000-04:00

I headed up to Hampton Beach this past weekend with Sean to pay my BFF Samantha a visit while she's recuperating. Early last week, she had a seizure in the parking lot where she works. When she fell, she ended up at such an angle that not only resulted in her fracturing her ankle, but chipping a few of her front teeth as well.

She's doing a lot better, and Sean and I decided to raise her spirits while we wait for her results to come back (she has no history of epilepsy or anything, so it's kind of a mystery as to what exactly went wrong with her brain) by heading down to The Boardwalk Cafe along the beach for dinner and then to Lago's for the best ice cream ever. When we weren't stuffing our faces with seafood or peanut butter cup ice cream cones- we took a nice long drive along the coast to watch the sun set over some of the most spectacular houses in New Hampshire.

Before Sean and I headed back to Boston, we made one quick stop at the Playland Arcade on the boardwalk for a few games of competitive skee-ball. We ended up winning a few tickets, and promptly used them to buy pirate gear, joke noses/glasses, and a ton of Bazooka Joe Bubble Gum. Jackpot!

I'm also cat-sitting for Sam's kitty, Stella, for the next couple of weeks while Sam gets back on her feet. Stella is precious. A little temperamental, but she's getting adjusted to her surroundings and her mood is improving a little bit more and more each day. Hopefully she's come out from under my bed or from behind my couch long enough for me to take a picture of her!

Hitting close to home.

2011-06-02T00:57:00.000-04:00

Yesterday afternoon, a series of tornadoes touched down in numerous towns across Massachusetts, leaving a (current) death toll of 4, with 30+ injured, and a as of yet undetermined amount of damage in their wake.

The statistics aren't too bad, considering Massachusetts rarely sees tornadoes- let alone multiple ones. We aren't exactly seasoned veterans when handling such a disaster- so I'm both amazed and thankful that the number of people killed or injured is so low.

I was leaving work and was just starting on my way home when one of the tornadoes, which had originally started up in Western Massachusetts and worked it's way East, touched down extremely closeby. The lightning from the storm was hitting the ground, trees, everything so quickly and so often, and it started raining and hailing (golf ball sized) really hard and really fast to the point where it became hard to see the road- and myself and others sought refuge under an overpass on the highway. It's a good thing we did, because it didn't take long for branches, trees, and random debris to start flying around shortly thereafter.

In it's aftermath, the storm destroyed my Uncle's home in Brimfield, and has displaced a few of my friends. Thousands in Massachusetts are still without power, and Governor Deval Patrick declared a state of emergency as search & rescues, damage assessment, and clean-up is underway.

Although we don't necessarily need blood or medical supplies at the moment, local Red Cross volunteers are helping local communities with shelter, food, water, and counseling.

The tornadoes have yet to be rated, but I've heard multiple reports that they may be categorized as F2s or F3s. If anything, that makes me feel even more awful for the people of Joplin, MO. who were completely and totally leveled by a F5 tornado on May 22nd- the highest level a tornado can be rated on the Fujita Scale, and considered the deadliest type of twister.

There are many ways to help the people of Joplin, who are still reeling from the diaster. Perhaps the easiest way is by making a $10 donation through The Salvation Army by texting “JOPLIN” to 80888. Confirm when prompted with “yes.”

They still really need our help.

And in closing- if anyone in the affected areas from today's storms need anything at all: food, water, clothing, a place to sleep, a hot shower, ANYTHING- please don't hesitate to contact me. I love you all.

Stay safe, and take care of one another.

xox

"Goin', goin', back to, back to, Cali, Cali..."

2011-06-01T01:02:00.001-04:00

Hello everyone, and hello Summer! Although it technically isn't Summer until June 21st, it definitely feels like it with this sudden burst of heat and humidity lately. No complaints here, however. I'd rather it be sweltering than freezing any day!

I kicked off the season this past Memorial Day Weekend in Sunny San Diego, California with friends and loved ones. My favorite sweetpea from Hillcrest, Duncan, cooked me a fabulous dinner upon my arrival, and made sure I went to Ocean Beach (the most laid back of San Diego's beaches) where I developed a nice little sunburn. Ouch!

My favorite shaggy haired bassist, JimmyJames, also took me out for a night on the town during my stay. As always, lots of beer, hilarity, and douchebaggery dodging at other local bars and hotspots ensued.

Speaking of JimmyJames, I swung by The Shakedown Bar this past weekend to catch his new band, The Marsupials, first show. Completely forgetting the laws of decibel levels vs. the human eardrum, I'm pretty sure standing right next to the speakers and amps with no earplugs caused irreversible damage to my hearing- but they were a lot of fun to watch, so I guess it equals out somewhere.... What did you say? Huh? What?

To round off my stay, I headed down to the fish market area of the city where there are a lot of WWII memorials, statues, and the USS Midway Museum, which is located inside an aircraft carrier docked in the bay. The place was all decked out in honor of Memorial Day, and while I walked around snapping pictures- I felt like my grandfather, who fought bravely in World War II, would have really enjoyed it if he were still alive.

Of course, the saddest part of San Diego is having to leave to come home- but I'll hopefully be back for yet another Tour De Force later on this Summer!

I'm still slightly jetlagged though, since shortly after I arrived back home I had to head out to work- so I think I'm going to end this one here and go crash!

'Til next time!

Bands & Bowling: II. Rapture Edition!

2011-05-21T22:58:00.001-04:00

Thursday night I caught a gig by my beloved Arctic Monkeys (who need no introduction on this blog at this point) at the House Of Blues. It's been almost two years since they've played a show in Boston, and they were fantastic as always. I am loving the hell out of their new songs so far! (FYI: "Suck It And See", their new album, is released on June 7th!)

As always, one of my favorite things about the Monkeys rolling into town is that I get to see my dudebro Scoot, who last made an appearance back in November when he came to town with Grinderman. Thursday night had an extra surprise, however- with my longtime pal James joining the crew!

James was in town doing sound work for the Monkeys' opening band, The Vaccines, who I'd heard of but never actually listened to despite James talking about how good they were and promoting some of their music. Shame on me- because he was right. They're phenomenal:

That song has been stuck in my head for the past couple of days.

NOTE: There's some nudity in the video, so it may not be safe for work or kids.

As extraordinary as The Vaccines are musically, they couldn't quite bring similar magic to the bowling alley when we all headed next door to Jillians after the show- as is the usual tradition following most House Of Blues events- for a showdown. The picture above of the scoreboard is lousy, but I was the one with 85 points when it was taken. Despite suffering a crippling injury shortly after we first started playing (I broke a nail), I'd like to think I dominated. The guys were absolutely lovely to get to know and play with. They were kind enough to not only cheer me on, even when I was kicking their asses, but they also helped me perfect the "Top Gun" high-five technique whenever I got a strike. Hilarious.

The Monkeys boys eventually showed up and joined us in the next lane and pretty soon the games turned into absolute mayhem. I'm talking "4 bowling balls being hurled down the lane at the same time and occasionally hitting the metal pin guard/gate thing" sort of mayhem. Luckily, the staff seemed a little pre-occupied, at least enough to not notice our shenanigans, and nobody was injured by any balls flying loose... And wow, that came out wrong.

So much love and so many thanks go out to everyone who made the night memorable and wonderful. It was worth being exhausted the next day. I can't wait to see you all again- and it will hopefully be soon!

In other news... So... About that whole "rapture" thing that was supposed to happen tonight... Yeah... I think it's safe to say there are a few people out there who were all worked up and preaching nonstop who feel a little silly right now, and more than one person who is PISSED they wasted money on decorating their vans and/or RVs like this:

Yikes. I'm sure some soap and water will take that right off. You'll hardly be able to notice it...

Non-apocalypse related (unless you're one of those people who believe gingers have no souls), but I'm a redhead again- and absolutely loving it! I think I'm channeling my alter-ego, who is apparently Cheryl Blossom:

But it's getting late and I've got a few things to tend to before I call it a night, so to end this entry on a somewhat funny point:

Now we know why the rapture didn't happen. Jesus was too busy getting flying elbowed by Randy Savage. OOOOOH YEEEEEAH.

R.I.P. Macho Man!

Downpours on the Hill and the Worst Video Game Ever.

2011-05-17T22:56:00.000-04:00

Beacon Hill has always been my favorite section of Boston. Between the brick sidewalks, the gaslights, and the rows upon rows of cute houses- I take the ultimate satisfaction in just walking up and down the streets, taking in the scenery.

This past weekend, Sean and I went for a stroll through the Common after an evening of shopping, and we ended up on Beacon Hill when it started POURING out. We sprinted from doorway to doorway to keep dry until it passed, which didn't really work to our advantage- but it was fun and lovely nonetheless.

That wasn't all we did this weekend. Sean surprised me by busting out a copy of "D" for the original Playstation console. For this who aren't familiar with "D", it's a really, really awful video game from 1995. I mean absolutely awful. It was also one of the first video games my siblings owned when our household was first introduced to the Playstation way back when, and one of the only video games I'd been on a quest to find again since my late teens. Sean searched high and low, and somehow tracked down a copy online and ordered it for us to enjoy, cringe, and laugh at for the whopping 3+ hours it takes to play it in it's entirety.

And if you need to experience this fabulous travesty, here's the intro video:

Sweet Jesus yes.

Cruisin' Towards Summer Playlist: 2011

2011-05-14T13:06:00.000-04:00

After the horrible winter New England has had, it seems Spring and Summer can't come fast enough. The transition into the warmer weather has been slow this year, but it's gradually beginning to feel more and more like Spring and less like the Arctic Tundra.

Inspired by the flowers coming back to life and the prospect of a fun-filled Summer approaching, I made a quick playlist of some songs that get me in the mood for picnics, road trips, sun dresses, and SPF 15.

And many thanks to some of the fine folks over at my Twitter for the song suggestions!

PREACH.

2011-05-08T14:12:00.001-04:00

Happy Mother's Day!

Osama bin Laden Killed: Internet Doesn't Waste A Moment.

2011-05-02T22:58:00.001-04:00

Okay, I think that's the best of the best. I love the internet.

But wow. Today has been surreal. Part of me is relieved and satisfied that monster is finally dead, while part of me wonders what will happen next.

If anything, I hope bin Laden's death brings a sense of justice to those who lost loved ones on September 11th, 2001. I know there will never be closure, and no amount of justice will ever make the hurt go away completely- but I hope this allows some small comfort to them.

An eye for an eye leaves the world blind, but sometimes, on very rare occasions- it's necessary.

(Top: The White House last night during President Obama's announcement of bin Laden's death. Bottom: Times Square last night following the news of bin Laden's death.)
God Bless America.

Fairytale Weddings & Nature's Fury

2011-04-29T20:59:00.002-04:00

I was one of the many who woke up at the crack of dawn this morning to catch the nuptials between Prince William and Catherine Middleton. I'm truly a hopeless romantic, so weddings are right up my alley anyway- but I also thought it was so amazing that the world was coming together to watch two people who love each other make the ultimate commitment to one another.

The new Duchess of Cambridge looked absolutely stunning, the ceremony was beautiful, and I actually got a little choked up during their vow exchange. By the time they got around to their first kiss as husband and wife, I was a sniffly mess.

Congratulations to the newlyweds, not that they'll ever read this, but still! I wish them many happy and healthy years together. They're an adorable couple.

As joyful as today was for the UK and lovers of fairy tales come true worldwide, those of us here in America are stunned at the chaos in some of our Southern states following a series of devastating and deadly storms over the past couple of days. My thoughts and prayers are with those affected- especially in Alabama, who seem to have suffered the worst of it.

I've always wanted to see a tornado up close (going on a tornado chase is even on my list of "Things To Do Before I'm 30"), but seeing the ruin that lies in the wake of one is a reminder of just how powerful and unpredictable they can be.

As the damage is surveyed and more survivors are being searched for, I urge everyone to stay posted on ways to help over at The Red Cross or Direct Relief USA. Just like with Japan, Haiti, Chile, and with relief efforts in the Gulf- please donate what you can.

Hang in there, guys.

Easter Epiphanies?

2011-04-24T12:59:00.003-04:00

Peep show! Get it? Because they're Peeps, and they're stripping? Yeah... Whatever. I thought it was cute.

Happy Easter, everyone!

I'll be spending the afternoon at my parents' house for dinner with some cousins and whatnot. Should be a nice day.

I was going to mention this in my last update, but since I typically save my reflective posts for the end of the year, I left it out- but it really was such a strong emotional turning point in my life that I have to talk about it.

While I was in Vegas last weekend, specifically the afternoon I'd arrived and was dropping my things off and getting ready to hit the town, there was a moment where I was standing in my window overlooking the strip and it dawned me on me that I'm actually a successful woman- and living my life the way I want to, on my own terms. The realization of such a thing was slightly overwhelming, and I needed to sit down for a few moments to process it. I've come SO far, and I'm so, so unbelievably pleased with my life right now.

I've worked really hard, through bad jobs and equally bad people, over the past six or several years, and I've sacrificed a lot (some friendships and some relationships) to get where I am today- but I didn't take bullshit from anyone and I didn't compromise myself or what was important to me- and it paid off.

I'm actually successful. It feels amazing to say (or type). I have a job I sincerely love and actually look forward to going to every morning, and that I'm really, really good at.

I have a 4.0 GPA and graduate with my Associate's Degree in Paralegal Studies next May. School can be tedious, especially at my age and with a full-time job and active social life, but the payoff will be worth it- and that's what keeps me going.

I'm self-made, independent, and able to support myself financially- and then some. I can do whatever I want (within reason), and go wherever I want, whenever I want. I don't have to rely on anyone or worry that my plans will complicate my financial stability. It's exhilarating.

More importantly, I rose above nay-sayers, doubters, general "haters", and dead weights- and am now continuously surrounded by loving, kind, brilliant, funny, talented, and overall amazing people who not only inspire me to be the best person I can be every single day, but who care about me and look out for me and my best interests and who treat me with respect and equality. That alone is worth more than any amount of career success or money in the world. I couldn't ask for a better, more diverse group of friends, family, and acquaintances.

I'm proud of myself for finally reaching this stage of my life, grateful for the opportunities and people who have helped me along the way, and excited to see what happens next. I think I may actually be filled with glitter, rainbows, and unicorns right now. I'm THAT happy.

(Accurate portrayal of how I'm so happy, I could puke rainbows.)
I should probably wrap this up as I'm expected at dinner within a couple of hours and I still need to get ready.

If there was ever a place to have an epiphany or a revelation or whatever this is considered, it may as well be in Vegas, right?

xoxo

Viva Las Vegas!

2011-04-19T22:42:00.003-04:00

Back on the East Coast again! I spent this past weekend in Las Vegas for a quick getaway to meet up with some friends and catch the Brandon Flowers & Nervous Wreckords show at Mandalay Bay. Despite the fact that I caught a bit of a cold on my last day and my throat is still a little scratchy as I type this, I had a blast. I love Sin City. It's the one place where I can drink, gamble, stay up all hours of the night getting into trouble- and it's not only allowed, but encouraged.

Following my arrival on Friday afternoon, I dropped off my suitcase and immediately hit the casino at Caesar's Palace, where I won $20 on a slot machine (impressive considering it was a 25 cent machine and I only put a dollar in) and then tried my hand at the tables for the first time, where I won $50 at blackjack (impressive considering... Well, just impressive). I quit while I was ahead, and opted to enjoy the sights and sounds of the strip instead. It's a little nerdy how much joy seeing Elvis impersonators or just general wackiness on every corner brought me.

On Saturday afternoon I met up with my friend/enemy/frienemy James G. (Just kidding. I love the hell out of him!) and headed to the House Of Blues at Mandalay Bay, where I also met up with my beloved Steven and my long lost twin sister, Kelsey. Kelsey and I had every intention of sitting back with some drinks and watching the man-folk set up for the show, but the boys had other plans. We ended up becoming the designated "runners" for the crew for the day, doing odd jobs and errands- like picking up 600 square feet of bubble wrap to pack up and ship some of the equipment, or the most important task of all- buying In-N-Out Burger.

Kelsey is seriously one of the sweetest, most chill ladies around and the fact that we had so much in common apart from our musical tastes, senses of humor, and our backgrounds- was awesome. I had the loveliest time hanging out with her. BFF GIRLCRUSH ALERT.

When all was said and done, and it was time for the show to start, Kelsey and I cemented ourselves on the side of the stage to watch. I've talked about The Nervous Wreckords before, and since that entry, I've missed countless shows of theirs due to our living on opposite coasts (and working opposite schedules). It was awesome to finally be able to catch them live. They didn't disappoint- and I'm not just saying that because Brian is a buddy of mine. I mean it! They were so much fun and got the crowd whipped into a frenzy.

Brandon, as usual, was fabulous. Not much has changed since my review of his show at the House Of Blues in Boston back in November. You just can't take your eyes off of him when he performs. He's magnetic. The best songs hands down are still "Only The Young" and "Playing With Fire"- both of which I prefer live. A quick YouTube search gives plenty of examples of how powerful PWF is on stage:

It gives me chills.

After the show, Kelsey and I headed to the after party at The Royal House to catch a late night set from Most Thieves and Halloween Town. This might sound a little cheesy, but it was sort of like a family reunion in there. Some people I already knew, and the other people I was meeting for the first time made me feel so comfortable and even adored so quickly that it was like we'd all known each other for ages.

When the party dispersed and people started heading off in different directions, I ended up hanging out with Brian and Co. at the after-after party and catching up for a few hours. Everyone was so engrossed in discussions, however, that it didn't dawn on any of us that we had stayed up 'til 6 a.m. until we noticed the sun creeping up over the balcony by where we were sitting.... Suddenly my current cough and sniffle is starting to make more and more sense. I hardly slept at all the whole weekend!

I came home late Sunday night/yesterday morning, and it was immediately back to work just a few hours later, but I didn't mind. This past weekend was awesome and totally worth temporary exhaustion.

So much love and so many thanks go out to everyone I spent time with out there who made my trip so unforgettable. I wish I could thank all of you individually- but it would take SO long and I don't think I'd even have enough space on here- but if you're reading this and you were there: THANK YOU! I'll see you all soon!

"Get in, loser- we're going shopping!"

2011-04-10T10:29:00.002-04:00

In "what does Ashley do when she's not working, traveling, talking about products/things she likes, and laughing at stuff on the internet" news- everyone say hello to my new car! I'm still trying to come up with a name for it, as every car needs a good name (so far the suggestions I've been getting from my friends are pretty epic. "Mark" is winning by a landslide, though- mostly because it's the best inside joke ever), but it's a fully equipped 2010 Kia Forte that I'm absolutely smitten with!

I pick the car up in a couple of days, which is just enough time for me to set up my insurance and registration and all that boring stuff- and then it's nothing but road trips and street racing.

Just kidding about the street racing part... Although I do have a heavy foot when I drive. I should really work on correcting that.

Speaking of road trips- I'm heading out with Stef today to find some adventure. I've gotta' run!

xx

Pics from the Weekend.

2011-04-04T23:29:00.001-04:00

It snowed here last week.

Today, we had a thunderstorm.

Spring is in the air!

Spent this past weekend shopping, sushi-ing, and enjoying the warmer weather with Sean around some of the quirkier sections of Boston.

Things I'm Lovin'.

2011-03-30T22:44:00.000-04:00

I've been a workaholic over the past couple of weeks. Busy, busy, busy. Not too busy to find things to be smitten with, though.

1. ORGANIC Olive Oil Creme: I picked up a jar of this at the Supermarket over the weekend while I was buying groceries to cook brunch with a friend and realized I had run out of hair product. Not impressed with what was in stock (when did it become acceptable to use hair gel/paste again?!), I grabbed this stuff off the shelf and was on my way. I didn't expect much, but hoped that it would help me keep some of my frizz on lockdown until I had the time to pick up my usual curl relaxer.

I was pleasantly surprised when I slathered this sweet-smelling cream into my hair and massaged it through my curls and into my scalp. Not only did my hair look better, it actually felt better, too. So soft and smooth! My frizz was still a little wild, but since then I've tried mixing this stuff with some of my regular product and the result has been just fine. This is more of a hair moisturizer than a styling product- but I love it! I'd heard that olive oil works miracles on different things, but never really tried it on anything apart from on my food. Now I'm a believer.

This stuff is inexpensive as well! Going at $7-$8 a jar, it's a steal compared to some of the pricier salon brands of hair conditioners that do the exact same thing.

2. ALDO's RHOTEN Bracelet: I'm not really a religious person. I'm more spiritual than anything else. I have my own set of beliefs that I keep to myself, but something about this bracelet intrigues me, despite it's religious theme, and I really like it. Yes, it's a men's bracelet- but that wouldn't stop me from wearing it.

I imagine someone who was more religious than I would feel pretty safe with all of those beautiful and meaningful images close to their person.

3. Planning for trips!: I shouldn't say I'm "currently" loving this, because I ALWAYS love this, but I'm feeling especially giddy for a weekend in Las Vegas I have coming up in a couple of weeks. I'll be seeing a bunch of friends who will also be in town, possibly catching what is shaping up to be a stellar show, and enjoying the sun, cocktails, and general Sin City debauchery.

And I'm long overdue for the pre-trip beauty regime I like to do before I travel anywhere, which is essentially me finding an excuse to pamper myself so I look good upon arrival at my destination. Priorities, people. Priorities.

4. That. Because it's awesome and really, really funny.

But it's off to bed for me. Heading into the office bright and early in the morning to get a head start on all the work I have waiting for me!

xoxo

"Give. Remember always to give. That is the thing that will make you grow."

2011-03-23T20:31:00.000-04:00

"You are who you are. All you can do in this world is help others to be who they are and better themselves and those around them." - Elizabeth Taylor.

Truly the end of an era.

Rest in Peace.

Weekend Re-cap.

2011-03-21T23:45:00.001-04:00

This past weekend was a bit of a blur. A very fun blur, but a blur regardless. Friday night, Stef, Sean, and myself saw Wanda Sykes perform at the Hanover Theater in Worcester. By the end of the show, I had tears running down my face from laughing so hard. Wanda was brilliant. So, so funny.

Saturday, I headed up to New Hampshire for Sam's 27th birthday blowout at her apartment. It was awesome to see her and catch up, and to meet some of her friends/co-workers over drinks and silly dancing in the living room. The party ended up being an all-nighter, with the last of the guests leaving at 4ish in the morning, and Sam & I finally crashing at 6 a.m.

Sam's cat Stella, however, was not amused by having so many people in the apartment- and spent most of the evening watching all of us with angry, unamused eyes from Sam's bedroom.

Sam recently re-decorated her apartment, and I was delighted she set up the "Wall of Fame/Shame", which is basically a small portion of the concert tickets, backstage passes, and set-lists we've collected and accumulated throughout the years. I took a few pictures of it yesterday before heading home:

I remember most of those shows so vividly. So much good music and SO many good memories.

Needless to say, I'm still a little sleepy. I should probably head to bed. I've got to work in the morning.

Night!

WHERE DA GOLD AT?

2011-03-17T21:46:00.000-04:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Japan: Ways To Help.

2011-03-12T09:36:00.000-05:00

The images and footage coming out of Japan right now are like something out of a Hollywood apocalyptic-style blockbuster. It's unbelievably horrifying.

As most know by now, Japan was struck by a 8.9-magnitude earthquake yesterday afternoon, the most powerful in their recorded history, which resulted in an equally powerful and deadly tsunami. The tall, fast moving waves even made it to Hawaii and parts of Southern California hours later.

In Japan, hundreds are dead, with the death toll expected to rise considerably, millions are without power- and there are still reports of aftershocks and possible radioactive leaks from power plants damaged in the disasters.

Thoughts and prayers are, of course, more than welcome- but what Japan needs more than anything right now is money, food, water, clothing, medical supplies- anything to help them get through this still-active situation and though the cleanup and re-building stages to come.

A good way to start is through the Red Cross. Just like with the situations in Haiti and Chile, you can make a donation directly through their official website, or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation that will appear on your next phone bill.

Two other great organizations that are doing their part to help out are The Salvation Army, who are also accepting donations as they head into the wake of the disaster to assess damages and provide necessities to misplaced survivors, and Save The Children.org, who are working around the clock to help care for and protect kids affected by this disaster.

If you know of any other non-profit organizations who need assistance in providing Japan with much needed help, feel free to drop me a line and I'll be more than happy to add them to this post!

Stay strong, Japan!

xoxo

March Madness!

2011-03-06T22:47:00.002-05:00

It may not look like it, since there's still snow & ice on the ground, but it was beautiful in Boston these past few days! After the winter we've had, some sunshine and warmth were more than welcome 'round these parts.

My friend Sean and I took full advantage of the early stages of Spring, gallivanting around the city, making new friends, exploring new places to hang out, and retreating inside only when it started to get very, very late so that we could pencil in some serious video gaming time. If playing "Resident Evil 5" has taught me anything, it's that I'm an amazing shot with a handgun. Take that, zombies!

In other news, my favorite lovely lads from Sheffield are back with a new track!

Who else could I be talking about besides the Arctic Monkeys, of course! I love the song. It's definitely different from their previous work, and I can't wait to hear more from them... And check out a tour, of course. Let's go, boys. Bring it to Boston.

I've been crazy busy at work lately, which explains the lack of update-age since I came back from California. Not that two weeks is such a long hiatus or anything, but still. I'm almost caught up, though- so I'll be updating a little more frequently.

'Til then!

xoxo

California Love.

2011-02-23T23:08:00.003-05:00

I'm back on the East Coast after a little stay in California.

My time in Los Angeles isn't even worth mentioning. I've never liked L.A. The people aren't friendly, the city is filthy, and the overall atmosphere, no matter which corner you travel to- is so depressing.

San Diego, on the other hand- is one of my favorite cities in the country. I first traveled out west to the city, which was discovered by the Germans in 1904, and whose name in German means "a whale's vagina", back in 2007 to catch a concert that combined a group of my friends and favorite bands at the time: Editors, Arctic Monkeys, The Killers, etc. I immediately fell in love with SoCal and went on to spend a considerable amount of time there during the following years.

Needless to say, I made a point to visit San Diego this past President's Day Weekend. The weather was beautiful (there was the occasional downpour of rain, but they only lasted a few minutes before the sun would come back out and dry everything off again), and I was thrilled at being able to walk around in a sun dress and no jacket in the middle of February.

One of the highlights of my trip was seeing my darling friend Duncan again for the first time in 2+ years. Duncan is absolutely hilarious, and is one of the most spontaneous and lively people I know- and I had the pleasure of joining him and his wild, fun, and welcoming friends & roommates at the San Diego Zoo over the weekend. We made it an event, too: "wear a hat to the zoo day". I had a blast- and got to see a panda bear up close! Finally!

I was also beyond ecstatic when I got to spend a couple of nights out with the always amazing JimmyJames. I met Jimmy when he was the bassist for Louis XIV about 6 years ago, and he's been a dear friend of mine since. Like Duncan, I hadn't seen Jimmy in 2+ years, and also like Duncan- I just adore him! Jimmy is truly one of the most kindhearted, charming, and funniest guys around- and he has a serious knack for finding awesome places for us to hang out in San Diego. For real. Not once did he steer us in the wrong direction. I was impressed.

He's also very photogenic, as evidenced above when we were playing around with my camera after sushi and drinks downtown on Sunday night. He had me in stitches from giggling so hard. I mean, really- how cute/really inebriated are we in those?

It was hard to leave the warm weather, warm people, and Pacific to head back home to chilly Boston on Monday night- but I've assured my friends out west, and myself- that I will definitely be back sooner than later.

xoxo

Valentines, ultimate breakfasts, and a Grammy re-cap.

2011-02-14T21:58:00.005-05:00

"Roses are red.
Violets are blue.
Valentine's Day candy is marked down 80% tomorrow.
You all know what to do."
Happy Valentine's Day to anyone who is celebrating it, and for the rest of us- enjoy tomorrow, which is pretty much "National Cheap Candy Day"!

This past weekend I spent some long overdue quality time with "the roommates" (Sean & Stef) out on the town. Late night dinner at The Other Side followed by a couple of drinks at Silvertone, a small bar in Downtown Crossing that I haven't been to since the weekend of my 22nd birthday.

After last call, our party moved back to the apartment where we stayed up until 4:30 a.m. listening to old Whitney Houston songs and watching episodes of "Archer".

Yesterday, despite only getting about 4 hours of sleep, we managed to head out for a late breakfast at Kelly's Diner, an original 50's diner in Somerville. After stuffing ourselves with eggs, pancakes, toast, hash, and coffee- it was off to Cambridge for some shopping before heading home to watch The Grammy Awards.

I don't really know what to say about the Grammy's. Lady GaGa, who stole the show last year, had an entrance that was interesting enough, but her performance was pretty bland and her new song is a ripoff of Madonna's "Express Yourself". Christina Aguilera screamed a lot during a tribute to Aretha Franklin, and Cee Lo Green rocked the place with some muppets:

His performance would have been my favorite of the night had Gwyneth Paltrow's pretentious ass not come out to ruin it. Terrible singer. Terrible actress. Terrible person. Someone should have pulled that basic bitch off of the stage with one of those big ass hooks.

Despite not being much of a country fan, I really enjoyed the collaboration of Mumford & Sons, The Avett Brothers, and Bob Dylan for "Maggie's Farm". Bob's voice isn't what it used to be, of course (not that he's well known for having a sensational vocal range to begin with), but it was nice to see him perform. The man is a legend.

Speaking of legends- how UNBELIEVABLY AWESOME was Mick Jagger last night?! The man can still move like nobody's business. My jaw was on the floor while watching him perform. I would give anything to see him live in person.

Also, big kudos goes to Arcade Fire for the biggest upset of the night when they unexpectedly won the last award, the coveted "Album of the Year", beating out chart-toppers like Lady GaGa, Eminem, and Katy Perry. They're a seriously underrated band, so it was nice to see them defy the odds and come out on top.

Their win inspired a series of confused, often pissed off reactions- which are currently being documented and showcased over at Who Is Arcade Fire??!!?. I wish I had an appropriate "YOU MAD, HUH?" .gif to use.

Oh wait, I do:

Thanks, Oprah.

I'm just going to leave this here.

2011-02-12T11:14:00.000-05:00

And now I'm just going to back away. Slowly.

Football, Snowballs, and Vamp-like Lips.

2011-02-07T00:54:00.001-05:00

Firstly, congratulations to the Green Bay Packers for winning tonight's Super Bowl! Not only because it was a nerve wracking, nail biter of a game, which is always the most fun to watch- but because their victory helped me put my "correct Super Bowl winner prediction" streak into it's fifth consecutive year! Thanks, Green Bay- you helped me win money again!

And I'm not even going to get into the travesty that was the the National Anthem or the half time show. What a horrific mess. Have we as a nation reached a point where the best we can do for entertainment is have Christina Aguilera scream the words to our country's anthem like she's in a tremendous amount of pain, and then follow it up with the Black Eyed Peas and Usher auto-tuning the small percentage of words that they weren't lip syncing? Really? We don't have anyone else? Considering the amount of commercials Eminem was in inbetween plays tonight, I'm sure he needed the cash. He probably could have, and would have done the entire half time show by himself and put on a way better performance.

And thanks for showing up, Slash. You may have been okay with Fergie ruining one of the best Guns N' Roses songs ever- but the rest of us were mortified.

Where the hell is Axl Rose when you need him?

Moving on...

In my last entry, I wrote about an impending storm we were bracing for here in New England. That photo above was taken last Wednesday by N.A.S.A. during one of the worst winter storms to hit the Northeast. We've had record snowfall this year, which kind of makes me feel like a dick for complaining that Mother Nature wasn't giving us enough of it during Christmas. If I never see snow again, it'll still be too soon. Thank goodness Spring is (supposedly) on it's way.

The weather took an even more unusual turn last night. While catching up on some work after a night out on the town, I noticed my lights flickering. I went to go investigate, and heard a tremendous rumbling outside. It wasn't until I reached my window and noticed flashes of lightning that I realized we were having a bit of an intense, if brief, thunderstorm. Need I remind everyone that it's only February and stuff like that just does NOT happen around here? It was a little spooky, but kind of cool at the same time.

My parents got wind of the recent blizzard, as they texted me from Las Vegas a couple of days ago to openly mock my having to shovel yet again. They were in the City of Sin to have dinner and catch a show and enjoy the perfect weather, it seems. Since they read this- MUST BE NICE, YOU TWO. How about the next time you're out there, you send me some of that excess sunshine? Or better yet- take me with you!

The problem with winter, for me, anyway- is that I'm very much an outdoor, fashion-loving, sunlight embracing type of girl, and I DETEST being cold- which sort of throws a wrench into my "fashion forward" plan from the months of November through March/April, depending on when it starts to warm up. I'm usually so bundled up that my spectacularly planned outfits (at least I think so) are concealed under layers of scarves, sweaters, and jackets- or just scrapped all together until the temperatures hit the high 70s.

For the past couple of years, I've tried to add some dazzle to my overall winter look (as opposed to my "I'm freezing and angry about it" look I've had in the past) by playing up my makeup, nails, and accessories with whatever's trendy that season.

This year, I've noticed that the winter makeup look is bold, pouty red lips. I've managed to sport some pretty intense and dramatic eye looks over the years, and even the occasional wild blush combination here and there- but red lips have always been sort of off limits for me. I've never been able to quite pull it off. With me being as fair skinned as I am, my lips almost always look too bright, like a clown- or too dark, like a bad vampire costume on Halloween. There's never been a happy medium.

Red lipsticks are often too heavy or wax-y looking, and red lip glosses are too sheer! An hour after applying them, I either look like I have really chapped lips, or like The Joker:

Sans purple suit, of course.

A friend recommended I check out lip stains- a sort of lovechild between lipsticks and lip glosses. I've had them before, but never really considered them as much more than a quick slick of color when I was on the run or out and in need of a touch-up.

While doing some shopping on Saturday, a tube of a pretty red lip stain caught my eye in the cosmetics department. Thinking I had nothing to lose, I'd tried everything, afterall- and considering it was only $7, I caved and bought it. My wallet wouldn't be too horribly upset if it didn't- and probably wouldn't- give me the effect I wanted.

Boy, was I wrong.

What I picked up was Maybelline New York's "Color Sensational" lip stain in "Cranberry Crush". I tried it when I get home and was immediately smitten. The lightweight texture didn't make my lips look wax-y like a lot of lipsticks do, and the color was a subdued, romantic red- like I had just eaten some cherries. It lasted for a couple of hours, much to my surprise- and the precision point tip made it easy to line my lips to get a full, sexy kisser.

Upon further researching the holy grail of red lip colors, I discovered that the formula is enriched with a berry extract- which explains why my lips felt so soft the entire time I was wearing it and even after I took it off.

The true test will come when I wear it out on an upcoming date I have, but something tells me he won't be too fixated on whether or not my lip color stays in place for hours and hours.

xoxo

Noooooo!

2011-02-01T23:41:00.001-05:00

Oh my God. ENOUGH ALREADY.

(Me shoveling my parents' driveway during a lull in the last storm.)
As we brace ourselves for yet another storm, reportedly the worst one yet- I'm genuinely curious as to where I'm going to put all of the snow I manage to shovel. The piles next to where I live are already WAY above the seven feet high mark.

In two weeks I'm scheduled to be in sunny, warm, beautiful, ice-free California. I'm just hoping I can dig myself out in time to make it to the airport to get there!

Birthday Re-cap.

2011-01-26T21:18:00.002-05:00

Bonjour!

Despite popular belief, I actually didn't party myself to death over the course of my birthday weekend. I've just been pre-occupied with work, catching up on errands, and shoveling piles of snow after piles of snow (another storm is happening right now. SOMEBODY MAKE IT STOP. PLEASE).

I did have a blast, though- and enjoyed entering my mid-twenties gracefully (I didn't sink to the sad level of getting a boob job or a tummy tuck or some other waste of money), and with close friends and loved ones.

That cake should have said "Happy 21st Birthday Again", but I'll let it slide.

Inbetween getting birthday wishes from friends far and near (my phone was blowing up. It was seriously so sweet and so overwhelming- but in a good way!) and excessive amounts of clothes shopping because my parents are AWESOME- I was also treated to a really great lunch in Salem, New Hampshire at the new Italian restaurant, Tuscan Kitchen- which was seriously the most delicious, fresh, and more importantly- REAL Italian food I've ever had. Suck on that, Olive Garden.

I also enjoyed a yummy dinner at the 1790 Restaurant & Tavern in Westborough, Mass. Like the name says, it's a historic tavern-turned-restaurant and function hall. Really quiet and intimate. There was a jazz trio playing in an adjacent room, but they weren't overpowering. I was still able to hold a great conversation. It was really fantastic. Definitely my kind of thing and definitely a place I'd go back to again.

The only downside to the celebration was that I didn't get the chance to sleep much before heading back to work on Monday, and still haven't! A minor setback I plan on rectifying tonight since I'll undoubtedly have a bit of a snow delay in the morning if this current storm is as bad as predicted.

But before I head off to rekindle the connection between my head and my pillow, I just want to thank everyone again SO SO MUCH for all the unexpected birthday wishes and overall sweetness that I was showered with. It was so touching and really meant a lot to me. I love you all and I truly appreciate it!

xoxo!

Birthday Playlist

2011-01-21T22:01:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow is my 25th birthday, er- I mean my 21st birthday... Again... Anyway, to mark finally being able to rent a car (really? That's the only milestone? What a bummer!), I thought I'd compile a little mix of songs that go fantastic with cake, confetti, and the "5 years 'til I'm 30" dread!

- Tracklisting -

The Ting Tings - "Hands"
Stardust - "Music Sounds Better With You"
M.I.A. - "XXXO"
Happy Birthday - "Girls FM"
CeeLo Green - "F**k You"
Moving Units - "Birds Of Prey"
Jimi Hendrix - "Fire"
Arctic Monkeys - "Bigger Boys & Stolen Sweethearts"
Brandon Flowers - "Only The Young"
The Strokes - "Someday"

Appropriate.

2011-01-16T23:36:00.000-05:00

According to my blog stats, my entry ripping apart Tom Brady is one of the highest viewed posts on this site.

A little over a year later, and I still stand by every word I wrote.

I really hope today's embarrassing loss to the Jets teaches The Patriots, Bill Belichick, and the overzealous fans who were so arrogant and so sure that The Pats were going to win, and kept saying that the "JETS SUCK" with such certainty realize that everything can change in one game. Learn to be humble. It'll make losses like tonights easier to swallow.

Maybe next year, New England.

What's In My Makeup Bag?

2011-01-16T01:42:00.000-05:00

Muchos Gracias to one of my favorite ladies from the UK, Carla from Messy Carla for posting this meme on her blog! Inspired, I've decided to answer the age old question:

Adorable taco makeup bag can be found over here at Fred Flare!

The contents of my makeup bag change almost daily, but these are my usual stand-by's. Clockwise from the top left:

- Almost Powder Makeup with SPF 15 by Clinique: This lightweight powder is perfect for any little, quick touch-ups I may have to make throughout the day. Easy to carry, easier to apply- and no mess at all.

- Listerine Pocket Pack Fresh Breath Strips: Because fresh breath is a must. You never know who you'll run into. ;)

- Beauty Rush oil absorbing sheets by Victoria's Secret: Once the "halfway-through-the-day" point arrives, I use these pocket sized papers to absorb any excess oil and reduce shine in my T-Zone.

- Purse-size bottle of "Glow" perfume, by Jennifer Lopez: It's always good to carry a perfume/cologne on your person, just in case you need a refresher spritz at any point during the day. I'm a big fan of the original "Glow" perfume. It smells clean and crisp, with a little hint of citrus.

- Purell Hand Sanitizer: This one is self-explanatory. We've all found ourselves in those "EW GROSS" situations, with no soap or sink in sight. These teeny tiny bottles are a liquid miracle for the inner germaphobe in all of us.

- OPI Nail Lacquer in "Bubble Bath": I'm a reformed nail biter, and last year I ditched the acrylics that were so badly damaging my fingertips for YEARS. Ever since, I try especially hard to keep my nails in good shape. I like to keep a nice neutral color in my bag to keep them looking pretty (and protect them!) OPI's "Bubble Bath" is one of my long-time favorites.

- Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner by Maybelline: Around 4 p.m; my eyeshadow is starting to fade. It stays on, and puts up one hell of a fight- but with no time for extensive touch-ups at work (I'm a busy girl!)- it can only hold on for so long. To compensate, and keep my eyes popping- I just apply a layer of this long-lasting gel eyeliner. It comes with a long handled brush for precise application, and helps take my look from daytime to evening in just a few minutes.

- Carmex lip balm: Okay, this stuff tastes awful- I won't lie. It's pretty gross, but it does what the tube says it will. It heals, soothes, and protects your lips. I highly recommend this stuff for anyone living in the New England area, especially now that we've got that arctic chill going on outside. Your best bet to beat the taste? Mix it with something a little more flavorful like another, yummier tasting lip balm. Look at it this way, it'll be twice the moisturizer and only half of the icky taste.

And there you have it!

Snowed-in. Again.

2011-01-12T17:43:00.001-05:00

Another Nor'easter, another day of watching movies in my pajamas all day and catching up on e-mails since work is closed. Currently it's still coming down like crazy outside- so I don't know if tomorrow will be more of the same. I haven't attempted to brave the roads since the blizzard started, but from what I hear- they're really, really bad. So stay safe, New England!

Here, instead of going out into the storm- look at "Titanic Pug" instead:

The more I look at it, the funnier it gets.

"Let's spend the night together."

2011-01-09T18:54:00.002-05:00

While flipping through the channels the other day, looking for something, ANYTHING, to watch while the snow was beginning to fall again outside- I came across VH1's latest "Rock Doc", a documentary created by the legendary groupie Pamela Des Barres, entitled "Let's Spend the Night Together".

The word "groupie" has had a stigma attached to it for as long as I can remember (exactly why I listed it as my occupation in my profile on here. Mwuahaha). Nowadays, the word has been altered and bent to represent a female, so desperate to be around someone famous, usually a rock star- that she'll go to great lengths, including sleeping with anyone and everyone, to get there.

Having been called a "groupie" as an insult by a few (usually drunk and bitter) fans after concerts or at afterparties during the past five years- the word's negative impact has weakened, mostly because I know I don't fit the description provided above.

After watching Des Barres' (affectionately referred to as Miss Pamela by her fans) documentary, I learned the word did not always carry such a taboo definition. In Miss Pamela's days of groupie-dom (the 60's and 70's, respectively), groupies were simply friends of the group. Was there sex? Of course there was, but in the days of free love and peace- it wasn't so frowned upon in the music community. Not the way it is now, at least.

In fact, groupies in the 60's and 70's were partly responsible for some of the greatest rock songs ever written. They were the friends, lovers, girlfriends, maternal figures, confidants, and inspiration for rock's legends.

(Mick Jagger, with Miss Pamela in the background)

(Jimmy Page and Pamela)
In "Let's Spend the Night Together", Pamela and her fellow groupies (which included the gorgeous Catherine James, the GODDESS Tura Satana, Cassandra Peterson- better known as Elvira- and the crazy but funny "Sweet Connie") told tales of their past adventures in the world of rock n' roll during it's greatest era: The songs, the hook-ups, the heartbreak, the feuds, the fashion. It was truly a interesting peek into a world so many are afraid to talk about.

Pamela is also an accomplished author. Her books: "I'm With the Band", "Take Another Little Piece of My Heart- A Groupie Grows Up", and "Let's Spend The Night Together", showcase her abilities as a brilliant story-teller and overall free spirit. Chronicling her childhood, her time in The GTOs (Girls Together Outrageously, a supergroup mentored and produced by Frank Zappa), her whirlwind affairs with Jimmy Page, Mick Jagger, and Keith Moon, all the way to her marriage and having her first child- Des Barres is unapologetic and candid, but also sweet and comical- and the books simply cannot be put down. Total page turners.

I highly recommend checking your local listings to try and catch a repeat of the documentary. It's funny, surprising, insightful, and maybe even a little scandalous- but who doesn't love a good one of those now and then?

‎"Leave all your love and your longing behind. You can't carry it with you if you want to survive."

2011-01-04T20:46:00.000-05:00

Hello! I said it in my last entry, but Happy New Year! This past NYE didn't kill me (although I toasted 2011 with one small glass of champagne and it was enough to get me a little buzzed!). It was actually super relaxing and low key. I had mentioned that I was spending the weekend with my BFF Samantha up in New Hampshire- where my cell phone reception isn't all too remarkable. Because of that, I went a couple of days without full calling/texting/e-mailing/general technological abilities- which actually turned out to be pretty awesome.

I think we rely so much on technology that we forget the simple pleasures that come with not having it strapped to us 24/7. Without having to keep up with messages or calls- I was able to fully rest, enjoy my time with Sam, truly take in the view of the ocean (this past weekend was beautiful, despite the leftover snow on the ground, so it wasn't too cold by the water), and focus on starting the work towards achieving my goals for the new year.

We also took some time to go shopping, watch "Toy Story 3"(tearjerker to the extreme. I had to hold in the urge to weep at the ending so I wouldn't lose "cool" points, although I'm sure I wasn't the only one who had to bite their lip to keep from losing it), and taking a drive along the coast, alongside some of the most beautiful houses I've ever seen, to check out the Seacoast Science Center- where we got to poke sea cucumbers and hold starfish with some of the little kids that were running around.

Sam and I are planning another weekend getaway soon, destination yet to be announced, of course- but it's in the works and I'm looking forward to it. The "Dynamic Duo" is making a comeback!

_____________________

I've been listening to a lot of Florence and the Machine lately. I've been familiar with the single "Dog Days Are Over" for quite some time now, but it really took on a new personal meaning to me over these past few days. It's the perfect anthem for a fresh start, which is exactly what I view every single new year as: A chance to improve upon the things you couldn't quite make it to the year before, a chance to rid yourself and your surroundings of negativity, and a chance to create a new and sensational you.

Happiness hit her like a train on a track.
Coming towards her, stuck still, no turning back.
She hid around corners and she hid under beds.
She killed it with kisses and from it she fled.
With every bubble she sank with her drink,
And washed it away down the kitchen sink.

The dog days are over.
The dog days are done.
The horses are coming,
So you better run.

Run fast for your mother, run fast for your father.
Run for your children, for your sisters and brothers.
Leave all your love and your longing behind-
You can't carry it with you if you want to survive.

The dog days are over.
The dog days are done.
Can you hear the horses?
Because here they come.

And I never wanted anything from you,
Except everything you had, and what was left after that, too.
Happiness hit her like a bullet in the back.
Struck from a great height by someone who should know better than that.

The dog days are over.
The dog days are done.
Can you hear the horses?
Because here they come.

Run fast for your mother, run fast for your father.
Run for your children, for your sisters and brothers.
Leave all your loving, your loving behind-
You can't carry it with you if you want to survive.

The dog days are over.
The dog days are done.
Can you hear the horses?
Because here they come.

The dog days are over.
The dog days are done.
The horses are coming,
So you better run.