Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Sick Days
I haven't been feeling well... so in my brief moment of coherence this morning I wanted to let you know since I'm taking a few sick days from work... I'm also taking a few sick days from blogging... I'll get caught up on reading everyones comments and everyones blog posts once I feel better!
Friday, October 9, 2009
SYTYCD Season 5's Janette and Madonna
I've been meaning to share this story for a few weeks now and keep getting distracted...
When season 6 of so you think you can dance started the PBF and I were watching the show and I saw a picture of last years winner Jeanine, I said I can't believe Jeanine won.
PBF: "well she was the best looking girl on the show."
Elle: "Better looking than Jenette?"
PBF: "Jenette was way too skinny, Jeanine was the only girl whose body looked like a girl."
Elle: "Okay that makes sense, even though I still think Jenette is stunning."
Flash forward two hours and we are watching David Letterman.
PBF: "How old is Madonna? Whatever age she is she's freaking hot!"
Elle: "HUH?"
In what world is this girl too skinny,
but this girl is hot and feminine?
Does this make sense to anyone else? Even now I'm still laughing about this entire exchange...
When season 6 of so you think you can dance started the PBF and I were watching the show and I saw a picture of last years winner Jeanine, I said I can't believe Jeanine won.
Picture courtesy of E! online
PBF: "well she was the best looking girl on the show."
Elle: "Better looking than Jenette?"
Picture courtesy of google images
PBF: "Jenette was way too skinny, Jeanine was the only girl whose body looked like a girl."
Elle: "Okay that makes sense, even though I still think Jenette is stunning."
Flash forward two hours and we are watching David Letterman.
Picture courtesy of google images
PBF: "How old is Madonna? Whatever age she is she's freaking hot!"
Elle: "HUH?"
In what world is this girl too skinny,
Picture courtesy of google images
but this girl is hot and feminine?
Picture courtesy of abcnews online
Does this make sense to anyone else? Even now I'm still laughing about this entire exchange...
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Dressing Room Breakdown and I May Be Addicted to Shopping
Readers,
It's been one week since I started my budget... and although there's been uhmm ah lets call it "flexible math." I'm still considering myself on budget!
You see, I received a belated birthday gift this week. Totally unexpected and totally not budgeted! Hurray... so I used it to buy my sister's birthday present ($82), A stocking stuffer for the PBF's mom ($10), and a little hostess gift for our next visit to the PBF's parents house (whenever that will be) $4. I also bought myself a travel monogram coffee mug ($11), new dress $16, some new shoes $16, and some hosiery $7. I haven't gone crazy by any means, but I certainly did not stay within my planned budget of $50 towards gifts, and of course no clothes shopping!
I may be addicted to shopping, it felt great to browse for good deals for my sister, and for great deals for myself. Now of course I feel guilty, I set all these budget goals, and could have used the excess to save for school, but instead I spent it... Eeek! Then again, it was a birthday gift, and not budgeted so I probably shouldn't feel bad for enjoying how I spent it!
On to another crisis... while on the afore mentioned shopping excursion I had a dressing room breakdown. You know the one, where that horrible lighting managers to highlight every extra inch of you, and draws immediate attention to the cellulite (seriously, on my calves?) and stretch marks (seriously, on my hip bone?) you didn't know you had. Typically I call my friend Gretchen in those moments, but she is recovering from a serious break up and somehow crying over disliking my figure seemed a little self centered when faced with her very real pain.
So here I am, six weeks and 2 days away from vacationing with the preppy family. Laying on the beach, in all my glorious cellulite self... Aaak! Figure intervention seriously needed readers... I have a membership to a great gym that I hardly use- anyone have any tips on how to get out of bed at 5 AM to make it to the gym? I usually like to go afterwork, but the PBF hates how that cuts into our 'family' time. since I like to be in bed by 10:30, and the class I like at the gym doesn't end until 7... then I don't get home and out of the shower until almost 8, leaving a measly 2.5 hours of 'family' time before I'm off to bed again. I'm thinking if I can get up way before the sun and start my day off with a workout, maybe then it'll be manageable?
It's been one week since I started my budget... and although there's been uhmm ah lets call it "flexible math." I'm still considering myself on budget!
You see, I received a belated birthday gift this week. Totally unexpected and totally not budgeted! Hurray... so I used it to buy my sister's birthday present ($82), A stocking stuffer for the PBF's mom ($10), and a little hostess gift for our next visit to the PBF's parents house (whenever that will be) $4. I also bought myself a travel monogram coffee mug ($11), new dress $16, some new shoes $16, and some hosiery $7. I haven't gone crazy by any means, but I certainly did not stay within my planned budget of $50 towards gifts, and of course no clothes shopping!
I may be addicted to shopping, it felt great to browse for good deals for my sister, and for great deals for myself. Now of course I feel guilty, I set all these budget goals, and could have used the excess to save for school, but instead I spent it... Eeek! Then again, it was a birthday gift, and not budgeted so I probably shouldn't feel bad for enjoying how I spent it!
On to another crisis... while on the afore mentioned shopping excursion I had a dressing room breakdown. You know the one, where that horrible lighting managers to highlight every extra inch of you, and draws immediate attention to the cellulite (seriously, on my calves?) and stretch marks (seriously, on my hip bone?) you didn't know you had. Typically I call my friend Gretchen in those moments, but she is recovering from a serious break up and somehow crying over disliking my figure seemed a little self centered when faced with her very real pain.
So here I am, six weeks and 2 days away from vacationing with the preppy family. Laying on the beach, in all my glorious cellulite self... Aaak! Figure intervention seriously needed readers... I have a membership to a great gym that I hardly use- anyone have any tips on how to get out of bed at 5 AM to make it to the gym? I usually like to go afterwork, but the PBF hates how that cuts into our 'family' time. since I like to be in bed by 10:30, and the class I like at the gym doesn't end until 7... then I don't get home and out of the shower until almost 8, leaving a measly 2.5 hours of 'family' time before I'm off to bed again. I'm thinking if I can get up way before the sun and start my day off with a workout, maybe then it'll be manageable?
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Eddie Ross Wednesday
Hello Readers! I had no idea princesses were so popular! My little brain is conceiving a plan for a regular post about any one of the various royal families of the world. Hopefully, I'll get it started sometime soon...
In the meantime, lets revisit an idea that used to be a regular feature...Eddie Ross Wednesday! Eddie Ross has a fantastic store on Etsy, when the store first debuted it was updated every Wednesday... however, Eddie has been busy making appearances in various magazines, and on various decor shows. Good news friends... today we have new updates to Eddie Ross on ETSY!
How fabulous is this black glass compote?
It brought to mind Juliska's "Harriet" Black Glass Compote as featured in a floral arrangement in the September/October issue of Brides magazine.
I love these black swirl champagne glasses, wouldn't they be perfect for your Halloween Soiree?
This footed Black Bowl would be a wonderful addition as an olive bowl for an elegant holiday dinner party, wouldn't it be striking against a white table cloth?
In the meantime, lets revisit an idea that used to be a regular feature...Eddie Ross Wednesday! Eddie Ross has a fantastic store on Etsy, when the store first debuted it was updated every Wednesday... however, Eddie has been busy making appearances in various magazines, and on various decor shows. Good news friends... today we have new updates to Eddie Ross on ETSY!
How fabulous is this black glass compote?
It brought to mind Juliska's "Harriet" Black Glass Compote as featured in a floral arrangement in the September/October issue of Brides magazine.
I love these black swirl champagne glasses, wouldn't they be perfect for your Halloween Soiree?
This footed Black Bowl would be a wonderful addition as an olive bowl for an elegant holiday dinner party, wouldn't it be striking against a white table cloth?
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
A modern day fairy tale the Crown Princess of Denmark
I have a newly found interest in European royals, and although this may be old news to some of you I have recently discovered the love story of Crown Prince Frederick and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark.
Mary was an Australian and met "Fred" at a cocktail party during the Sydney Olympics.
When they first met he introduced himself simply as Fred. They spent the evening together, and only afterwards did she find out he was the next in line for the thrown of Denmark. They courted long distance for a while and then in 2004 they were married and she became the Crown Princess. They have two darling children, Christian and Isabella.
What a wonderful real life fairy tale. Isn't she the most stunning princess ever! And he is just the very picture of prince charming... Oh America I truly do love you, but it might be fun to have a prince!
*All pictures from the royal couple's website or from the Huffington Post
Mary was an Australian and met "Fred" at a cocktail party during the Sydney Olympics.
When they first met he introduced himself simply as Fred. They spent the evening together, and only afterwards did she find out he was the next in line for the thrown of Denmark. They courted long distance for a while and then in 2004 they were married and she became the Crown Princess. They have two darling children, Christian and Isabella.
What a wonderful real life fairy tale. Isn't she the most stunning princess ever! And he is just the very picture of prince charming... Oh America I truly do love you, but it might be fun to have a prince!
Monday, October 5, 2009
The problem of Homelessness
Phew readers, we're starting off Monday morning with a heavy topic. As you may have figured from my posts about Graces, faith plays a very important role in my personal life. Yet, it has played a very small role on this blog.
There are a few reasons for this, but the main one is that when someone reads your posts they are reading from their perspective. So many people have been hurt by the church and by Christians, and are so skeptical of the church the last thing I wanted to do was to create a faith-based blog that alienated readers not only to my blog but also to Christianity.
However, occasionally an issue arises that will cause me to stop and think, and really want to post about my faith... you may remember my post on Samaritan's Purse and their work in the Darfur region of Sudan last winter.
Today's post is another such example. Homelessness... You see it everywhere. Here in Austin there are homeless people begging on every intersection corner. Every time I see it, my heart breaks. I feel this rush of shame to see a person designed in God's image reduced to begging, and living on the street. I also feel this rush of inadequacy, there are so many homeless people all over the city. I can't give money or food to every single one I would simply go broke. Every time I'm faced with this I think of Jesus' words in Matthew 25:
"then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Fahter; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me....Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
In the next verse he tells those who did not feed the hungry, give to drink to the thirsty, clothe the unclothed, and care for the sick and the prisoners to depart from him.
Pretty serious stuff, right? So I often find myself wondering... how am I as a mere individual supposed to respond to such tremendous need? I try to be faithful tithing each month, and one part of my tithe goes to my church, and another part of my tithe I will give to a charity. Sometimes its an international charity and sometimes its a local charity that works with the homeless. When I worked in Manhattan I would pack an extra lunch and take extra pieces of fruit and extra bottles of water and give those to the homeless people I saw on my walk to work... the unique thing about Manhattan is I saw the same homeless people in the same places every day. But somehow, I always feel like I'm falling short, like its not enough. I feel like there's too much need for me to respond to.
I realize that there are problems and challenges working with the homeless population. I realize that if I give money it may be spent in ways that aren't healthy. However, this passage from Matthew does not say only give to the hungry if they're going to use it the way you want. It just says give. I believe that it's not my place to assume that any resources I share will be misused, I think my role is simply to respond to my conscious and give and what happens with that gift is between the receiver and my redeemer.
So readers, is anyone else convicted by homelessness? Or any other social issue? How do you respond? How do you find peace and come to terms with situations that may be much bigger than you?
There are a few reasons for this, but the main one is that when someone reads your posts they are reading from their perspective. So many people have been hurt by the church and by Christians, and are so skeptical of the church the last thing I wanted to do was to create a faith-based blog that alienated readers not only to my blog but also to Christianity.
However, occasionally an issue arises that will cause me to stop and think, and really want to post about my faith... you may remember my post on Samaritan's Purse and their work in the Darfur region of Sudan last winter.
Today's post is another such example. Homelessness... You see it everywhere. Here in Austin there are homeless people begging on every intersection corner. Every time I see it, my heart breaks. I feel this rush of shame to see a person designed in God's image reduced to begging, and living on the street. I also feel this rush of inadequacy, there are so many homeless people all over the city. I can't give money or food to every single one I would simply go broke. Every time I'm faced with this I think of Jesus' words in Matthew 25:
"then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Fahter; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me....Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me."
In the next verse he tells those who did not feed the hungry, give to drink to the thirsty, clothe the unclothed, and care for the sick and the prisoners to depart from him.
Pretty serious stuff, right? So I often find myself wondering... how am I as a mere individual supposed to respond to such tremendous need? I try to be faithful tithing each month, and one part of my tithe goes to my church, and another part of my tithe I will give to a charity. Sometimes its an international charity and sometimes its a local charity that works with the homeless. When I worked in Manhattan I would pack an extra lunch and take extra pieces of fruit and extra bottles of water and give those to the homeless people I saw on my walk to work... the unique thing about Manhattan is I saw the same homeless people in the same places every day. But somehow, I always feel like I'm falling short, like its not enough. I feel like there's too much need for me to respond to.
I realize that there are problems and challenges working with the homeless population. I realize that if I give money it may be spent in ways that aren't healthy. However, this passage from Matthew does not say only give to the hungry if they're going to use it the way you want. It just says give. I believe that it's not my place to assume that any resources I share will be misused, I think my role is simply to respond to my conscious and give and what happens with that gift is between the receiver and my redeemer.
So readers, is anyone else convicted by homelessness? Or any other social issue? How do you respond? How do you find peace and come to terms with situations that may be much bigger than you?
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Reader Questions, Photos of San Francisco and The Culinary Institute of America
Thank you Up North Preppy for asking such great questions and helping get my mind off of budgets and shopping (or the lack thereof)!
So here is the Q and A for anyone who wants to know!
Is PBF (preppy boyfriend) moving to San Francisco with you?
The answer is yes, of course. PBF and I have been together for four years, and after one year of dating we moved from Arkansas to New York so he could attend the culinary school, we then moved to Orlando, FL so he could do his externship for culinary school. After extern we moved back to New York for his last year of school. It just seems natural and beyond question that he would move for me to go to school after all the moving I did to follow him :) - That sounds snarky, and I don't mean it that way at all, I feel honored that I had the opportunity to live in each of those places, and all of our moving experiences brought us closer together as a couple as we struggled with job changes and finance changes and any other imaginable stress associated with moving.
Will PBF have to find a new job or can he do his current one from there?
PBF has an excellent job working for the culinary school he graduated from.
He travels and does cooking demonstrations for high school cooking classes and he judges regional and national cooking competitions. He can do this job from anywhere.
Even better, the culinary school he attended has a wonderful campus in Napa Valley, which is only about 15-20 minutes from Mare Island (where I'll be attending medical school). So if he doesn't want to travel across the country he could possibly work on campus.
In addition, I only applied to medical schools that are in areas that would enable him to pursue a career in the culinary field. So should he decide he wants to change jobs San Francisco, Sonoma, and Napa Valley are all within a short distance of where we will be living and he should have plenty of opportunity to find a new job.
I am a type A planner. I plan everything, and have several back up plans. Whereas PBF is more the sort of person who waits and sees what happens and then decides from there. So, while I've known since I was 12 that I wanted to be a doctor, he is still deciding what kind of career he wants. Although this difference in personalities sometimes creates friction for us, I am completely in support of him finding any kind of career that makes him happy. From personal work experience, I also know the value of working in many different fields and environments to develop professional skill sets so whatever he chooses to do there I am excited for him, because I see lots of opportunities (and because I am a planner and these things seem more tangible to me than they do to him, I am more excited about these opportunities than he is).
Will you be starting in the winter or the fall?
With this particular school the question is actually will I be starting in July or August. I have the option to pursue my Masters in Public Health while pursuing my MD. If I choose to do that I will start in July, if I choose to only pursue my MD I will start in August. I still have a few weeks to decide, but as for now I'm learning towards not pursuing my masters. I think medical school will be challenging enough without trying to get a dual degree!
If there are any other questions you'd like to know don't hesitate to ask!
So here is the Q and A for anyone who wants to know!
Is PBF (preppy boyfriend) moving to San Francisco with you?
The answer is yes, of course. PBF and I have been together for four years, and after one year of dating we moved from Arkansas to New York so he could attend the culinary school, we then moved to Orlando, FL so he could do his externship for culinary school. After extern we moved back to New York for his last year of school. It just seems natural and beyond question that he would move for me to go to school after all the moving I did to follow him :) - That sounds snarky, and I don't mean it that way at all, I feel honored that I had the opportunity to live in each of those places, and all of our moving experiences brought us closer together as a couple as we struggled with job changes and finance changes and any other imaginable stress associated with moving.
Will PBF have to find a new job or can he do his current one from there?
PBF has an excellent job working for the culinary school he graduated from.
Even better, the culinary school he attended has a wonderful campus in Napa Valley, which is only about 15-20 minutes from Mare Island (where I'll be attending medical school). So if he doesn't want to travel across the country he could possibly work on campus.
In addition, I only applied to medical schools that are in areas that would enable him to pursue a career in the culinary field. So should he decide he wants to change jobs San Francisco, Sonoma, and Napa Valley are all within a short distance of where we will be living and he should have plenty of opportunity to find a new job.
I am a type A planner. I plan everything, and have several back up plans. Whereas PBF is more the sort of person who waits and sees what happens and then decides from there. So, while I've known since I was 12 that I wanted to be a doctor, he is still deciding what kind of career he wants. Although this difference in personalities sometimes creates friction for us, I am completely in support of him finding any kind of career that makes him happy. From personal work experience, I also know the value of working in many different fields and environments to develop professional skill sets so whatever he chooses to do there I am excited for him, because I see lots of opportunities (and because I am a planner and these things seem more tangible to me than they do to him, I am more excited about these opportunities than he is).
Will you be starting in the winter or the fall?
With this particular school the question is actually will I be starting in July or August. I have the option to pursue my Masters in Public Health while pursuing my MD. If I choose to do that I will start in July, if I choose to only pursue my MD I will start in August. I still have a few weeks to decide, but as for now I'm learning towards not pursuing my masters. I think medical school will be challenging enough without trying to get a dual degree!
If there are any other questions you'd like to know don't hesitate to ask!
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