Men's Style 911

If anyone is interested, I was quoted (along with my friend Michelle Washington, Columbus' top fashion stylist) in the Lima (OH) News this past week.

We were able to talk truthfully about men and their style (or lack thereof).

http://www.limaohio.com/story.php?IDnum=48159

All Dressed Up

I've been so busy lately that just about everything besides immediate business (including my blog and all my usual writing) is being neglected. I'll be honest, it has been pretty cool to not worry about a lot of things that usually make me miserable - writing deadlines, busy work, etc.

I've been up to lame stuff lately.

- Buying a lot of dresses for spring & summer. No idea why. I spent like five years not wearing dresses. I was a suit girl. Well, not any longer. I really want to wear dresses.

- Watching lame stuff when I'm not doing something biz-related. Last night it was Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (aaah, such nostalgia!). Tonight, Hairspray. I'm discovering that I don't have the patience for musicals like I once did. Whether onstage or in a movie, I'm thinking, "Oh, just shut up already! Stop singing!" I noticed the highly-regarded Wicked is coming back to town and I thought for a half-sec "Maybe I should see that." And then I thought, "No, then I would have to sit through a musical!" To prove my inconsistency, I am trying to figure out a way to see Spamalot when I'm in NY. I'm a Spamalot groupie.

- Doing a lot of working out I would never, ever have believed I would do. For instance, last night I took a salsa class at the gym. The calf pain is excruciating!! And believe me, I beat myself up when I'm working out, but I am clearly missing the calves. I couldn't believe how fun it was and how much we were really getting a workout! My only two previous explorations of salsa dancing were at Sunset Lounge, half-smashed after giant martinis. I almost went splat on the floor - my platforms were too high as was my blood alcohol level.

I'm really looking forward to the cardio striptease class at the gym in February. My friend from Pure Romance is sponsoring it. Perfect product tie-in, huh?

- Glued to the X Games. Why? I have no idea. It looks like one of the most fun things ever devised by human beings. I especially enjoy Snocross (like motorcross on snowmobiles) and Big Air, which is on skis. I don't ski (too cold) and no longer ice skate (bad ankles and knees), but it sure would be fun to be out there doing all that super cool stuff.

My life is lame right now, and I'm enjoying it this way. It's really nice. Sometimes it's nice to lay low and be lame.

What a compliment! (to me, at least)

We had our headshot event today, which was fantastic.

Wendy was there along with Julia and Michelle, the hair gals, and we did it all at Eric Mull's studio in Midtown.

I was happy to see a lot of my friends, of course. And make a few new ones as well. How fun is it for girls to get around makeup??!!!

Wendy was commenting that Leslie has a major Deborah Messing vibe going on. Yes, she does. In fact, I didn't even remember I had made that comparison before.

Wendy and I were both commenting on how much we love(d) Will & Grace. And somehow it came up that I have a big time Karen vibe. Yes, my personality is VERY Karen. Most casual and business acquaintances would not expect that from me, but I am much more subversive than anyone but my good friends will ever know! And yes, I prefer to keep it that way!

Well, I took that comparison as a compliment. The Karens of the world have the most fun!!

Poor Toe & Tech Problems

Poor me - I've had nothing more to say this week other than "my toe hurts."

Oh, and I got a new BlackBerry tonight (good) and my laptop died last week (bad) and the two subsequent laptops I've bought and returned have had electrical problems (some Toshiba Best Buy exclusive model) where they just shut down in the middle of me doing something important.

Tomorrow, I'm buying a shiny new Dell.

Best Buy just started selling the Dell brand, so I'm happy about that.

But still, my toe is owwie :(

In case anyone is wondering (or cares)

I am still grouchy and in pain with my stupid toe. I am almost wishing it gets infected so I have an excuse to go back to the doc to figure out why I am in so much pain!

A trip to the store tonight to buy bandages and tape almost killed me!

Toe-rific! (not)

My life has been very toe-centric since Monday when I had most of my big toenail removed. Who knew it would be more than just momentary pain!??!

I had to soak it in Epsom salt yesterday and when I pulled the dressing off, something came along it it and it started bleeding profusely!

OW OW OW OW OW OW

Not that I'm being a big whiner intentionally or anything. But I have taken more Advil in the last couple of days then I probably did in the last year. Plus I'm getting stress headaches and drinking when I normally would not be.

I am lucky I only missed a minor event today. And I'm taking it easy for the rest of the week. Thank God I don't have a job where I am on my feet for hours at a time.

This sucks :(

Drunk Cookie Monster :(

I mentioned my cracked toenail in my prior blog.

Sunday, it felt fine. Today, I had a bunch of appointments all day long. It was throbbing to the point that I couldn't stand it any longer. So I got the family podiatrist's info from my dad and made an appointment for right after my final meeting.

The nail clearly had to come off, so the doc sprayed a topical analgesic on there to see if it would numb it enough or if he had to call out the big guns - meaning shoot me full of lidocaine or whatever he uses. Well, the topical didn't work, and he warned me about how painful the injections are. And boy were they. I have had a lot of surgery in the past, but it was nothing compared to the intense pain of five shots to the foot (in between my toes, etc). Ouch!!!

So after the toenail was removed painlessly (and he spared what he could of what remained), I went home, took Advil, put on some nature sounds on XM and went to bed. I got up a couple of hours later and took some more Advil and had a big peppermintini, using whatever supplies were left from Christmas. To say I am comfortably numb would be an understatement.

I also realized I look like Cookie Monster in my furry blue jacket.

Poor me. I have nightmares about my feet. And now some of them came true :(

But the podiatrist, Dr. Scott Hirsh, was gentle and kind, so I will be forever appreciative of that.

But still, the toe trauma! Waaaaa!

An Interesting Week

Interesting...not in the good sense.

Wednesday PM - my 2 year old laptop died. The motherboard went - better to buy a new one than replace - I am in mourning for my pretty laptop :(

Thursday morning 4:00am - tree fell due to high winds - hit the house and nearly demolished the deck


Friday - Booked my shortest trip to NYC ever - a little over 24 hours - just how I like it! Taking a class from the great Brenda Kinsel, author of 5 books, including the recently released Fashion Makeover: 30 Days to Diva Style. (I want Brenda to be my mom!!) Staying right outside the city with a client/friend of mine. That should be so much more peaceful. I just can't get into the New York City life - and I've tried. Give me L.A. any day over New York. Give me 5 years and I will be at least a part-time West Coast girl, although my heart is in Cleveland, my body would prefer to be in Santa Monica or Palm Springs!

Saturday - purchased my new laptop, tree almost 100% cleared away by the contractor people, lunched with about 16 aerobics instructors from my gym (I know, huh?), discovered that my big toenail on my right foot is coming off very close to the base - SCARY - both my mom and grandma have big toe toenail issues, so I guess I am the third generation. I am so vapid - all I can do is put a big band aid on it (so I don't think about it - it HURTS!) and be thankful it isn't sandal season.

Sunday will include helping train my friend's new 1-1/2 year old dog Biscuit (Maltese/Poodle mix), who is having some behavioral issues. Not that I'm Cesar Millan, the Dog Whisperer, but Bailey had issues we had to work on with her and I can give some insight to my friend (and treats to Biscuit). I'm also working on a branding project with another friend and fellow entrepreneur. And Monday is stacked with meetings. Busy, busy, busy. I need another vacation!

Other not-so-interesting stuff - I also did a lot of working out this week (feel my quads, dammit!) and business dining (so glad to have a respite from writing!) and saw Sweeney Todd. Couldn't believe the gallons and gallons of blood spilled.

We haven't seen this much hemoglobin in a Johnny Depp film since the infamous blood geyser in A Nightmare on Elm Street.

- Pete Vonder Haar
Film Threat

via
RottenTomatoes.com

I would also like to add that Johnny Depp is a genius (but everyone already knows that) and Helena Bonham Carter deserves an Oscar nomination for this role. And they both can sing pretty well - although I did notice that "Mr. Depp" had his own vocals producer and technician.

Still, it was very effective.

Oh, and Sacha Baron Cohen (Borat!) stole the movie. His part was way too small - much like in Talladega Nights. He is one of the great movie stealers of the moment.

Felt the need to explain what I know about Stephen Sondheim - a self-loathing gay man, whose mother told him daily that she wished he was never born. Wouldn't that cause YOU to write dark musicals too? Just look at Send in the Clowns from A Little Night Music. Awfully depressing. Although the amount of gore in Burton's Sweeney was so ridiculous that all we could do was chuckle nervously as the super-fake looking blood poured (and gushed) and bodies dropped - usually on their heads. With a few gasps and eeews thrown in for good measure. We ARE girls, of course!

Inspired by Rats

I watched Ratatouille last night and now I am inspired to cook! Aesthetically, the movie was amazing. The plot line was predictable (not that I am a movie reviewer or anything) and only really caught my attention when DNA analysis was mentioned (I am a bona fide forensics junkie).

But today, I found myself watching the Food Network (couldn't take hearing about the New Hampshire Primary any longer, honestly) and the focus this morning seemed to be on spa foods, so I was into that.

I particularly like Simply Delicioso with Ingrid Hoffman. I'm not much of a cook or food aficionado, and I'm a vegatarian. But I like things with bright flavors - so Latin foods (not necessarily Mexican - more like Cuban and South American) and Middle Eastern foods do it for me.

Today, I used some chopped veggies (I already had them bagged and ready to go for a stir fry) and a wild rice mixture in a yummy, made-from scratch tomato soup.

I'm like a little foodie rat! (but not really....)

New Year's F-EVE-R

Lucky me. First it was puking on Christmas and yesterday I was delirious with chills, aches and a high fever. Had to cancel my New Years plans and everything.

But I seem better today, so here's to 2008!

As my friend Leslie said,

"May your troubles last as long as your New Year's Resolutions!"