sing it rebecca black

Seen Here

Cheap Thrill - Emma's Pick

Bagels from Zabars

Today’s Cheap Thrill comes from my oldest and dearest friend Emma. First of all, today is my homegirl’s birthday. Happy Birthday Emma! You totally rock! We love you! Seriously, Emma and I have known each other since we were 4 years old.We went to every school together including college which makes her the most perfect person for trying to figure out someone who looks familiar (Hillside? Kenyon? Nishuane?). She also is under the radar hilarious, an amazing cook and the perfect person to ask what you should read next. Emma also picked one of my most favorite cheap thrills. One that I totally get down with too. A bagel with butter.   It’s that simple and yet that amazing at the same time. So today, for the Cheap Thrill Give Away, I will be sending the winner a half dozen of Zabars FamousBagels. These babies can ship anywhere, so for all you non-New Yorkers who might not know that amazingness of bagels on the daily, don’t worry—this is your chance (New Yorkers are still encouraged to get down with this—the Upper West Side might as well be New Jersey for those in Brooklyn). In the comments, let me know what you put on your bagel. Winner will be randomly selected on Monday. Bagel me!  

Happy Birthday Emma! There is no one else I would rather wait in line with to meet Pioneer Woman!

are you feeling lucky?

Image of a much younger Nicolas Cage from Rotten Tomatoes

Tonights Powerball jackpot is a whopping $550 million buck-a-roos. I bought a few tickets for myself and also joined my office pool. When the pot get this big, it is hard not to dream about what I would do with all the winnings. Remember that movie It Could Happen To You with Nicolas Cage, Bridget Fonda and Rosie Perez? He doesn't have enough money to tip the waitress so he offers to share his money should his lottery ticket win. Spoiler alert...he wins.

I was once with a group of friends who all were given scratch off tickets. My friend Babara misread her ticket and thought (and screamed for about 3 minutes) that she won $500.00. Turned out she didn't but it was worth the laugh.

Do you guys buy lottery tickets? Do you think they are a total waste or a cheap thrill? Ever win big?

is this trend over?

These lovely locks seen here

 So dudes, I am in a bit of a hair rut. Not the shape, since I have cut my bangs, I have been all about them. It's the color that it getting me. For those of you who don't know me, I have very dark brown hair. It doesn't get lighter in the sun or have natural highlights. It is just straight up dark. A few years ago Ombre came on the scene and totally rocked my (and seemingly every woman whose hair I admired) world. Dark on top with lighter highlights at the bottom. So pretty and interesting. But I was too chicken to do it. Then last week when I was getting a trim, I asked my hairdresser--who has ombre-- what she thought of my doing it. She herself loves it and while dying your hair is damaging, it isn't all of your hair and the upkeep up minimal compared to regular highlights. So I am asking you my dear readers-- what do you think? Have you ever tried something totally new with your hair? I have gotten Keratin and loved how easy it made my hair to manage. Anyone know more about Ombre? Will I look totally 2010?

The hair that seems to have started it all. Damn. Seen here

how to speak austrailian

Say the words "Rise Up Lights" out loud. Say it again. Say it again. 

Congratulations.  You just said razorblades in an Australian accent mate!

Babies from down under seen here. Cheers!

Cyber Monday!

And maybe a fur vest too? Image from here

Welcome back from Thanksgiving break! I hope you had a great holiday. Did you do any shopping on Black Friday? What about today, Cyber Monday? I am suffering over some boots at Bloomingdales and most likely going to load up on household supplies at Soap.com What about you? Any awesome deals I need to know about?

home for the holidays

The great Daniel Craig seen here

In a few hours, I will be packing up my stuff and heading to my parents house in New Jersey for Thanksgiving. I am pretty sure that tonight has become a universal night to go out in your hometown for a few drinks with old friends. But here is the thing, the high school friends that I am still friends with I see on the regular and often times there are drinks involved. What we don't do enough is go to the movies! So guys, let's all load up on popcorn and M&M's and meet me at the Bellview. Or whatever theater you have in your hometown. I will be in line to see the new Bond movie. What about you?

Congrats!

Caroline, you are now the happy own of some pretty bad-ass ponytail holders! Email me here with where you would like me to send these and we will be good to go!. Happy Thanksgiving!

Still time to win!

Enter HERE to win these totally rad hair ties!

Seen (and will be purchased on) Anthropologie

Tis the season...for gift guides

If you are a reader of blogs (and hey-- you are on one now so I guess you are), then you will know exactly what I am talking about, it is the season of Holiday Gift Guides. Blogs are a perfect place for this with great layouts options and ways to link directly to the stores. If you are looking for a great one, Creature Comforts does an spectacular job, breaking down gifts into a bunch of specific categories and offers some really unique gift.

But as I see it, all of these great gift guides are all paying homage to the greatest gift guide of all time. And by that I mean, the granddaddy of them all, the most head exploding, mind melting, pee in your pants gifts…It's Oprah's Favorite Things.

 For years, this has been my most favorite episode. Sure, I love seeing what Oprah picks. I may have even made a purchase myself based on the great ones picks.  But really, the magic of this show is watching the audience and their reaction to each gift that they are going to bring home, or rather have shipped to their home that day.

Now that the Oprah Show is no more, Favorite Things was existing only in her magazine. But this year, they decided to bring it back on the OWN channel. With an audience of 35 military spouses as the recipients of Oprah's favorite things, it was again TV magic. I laughed, I cried, I basically smiled giddily the entire show. It's running now on the OWN channel, I highly recommend watching during any down time you may have. It's pretty great. I mean, come on, look at these reactions!

Seen on Bumps and Curves

Seen on Oh No They Didn't!

Image seen on The Bridesmaid Diaries 

 

 

its beginning to look a lot like the holidays*

* I think as a Jew, I have a hard time saying Christmas. But I should just be honest, it is looking a lot like Christmas. And I love it.

Maybe it's that commercials for Black Friday are running on loop or maybe its the large snowflake hanging outside of our window seen above. Whatever it is, let's keep it up, I like it. 

wish you (and me) were here!

Picture from a trip PB and I took to Turks and Caicos this summer

Cheap Thrill Project- Sara E Pick!

Seen (and will be purchased on) Anthropologie

This weeks Cheap Thrill comes from Sara Elsasser. Let me back up by saying that Sara and I have known each other our entires lives. My life was almost cut short when I walked into her grandparents pool before knowing how to swim but that is another story. Sara is indescribable but if i had to try, I would have to say incredibly smart, fun, the type of person you pray is on your team and can not only make the best of almost nearly every situation, but in fact makes it better. She also has really nice hair. Seriously, it is always shiny. So when she sent me her pick for these amazingly new cute ponytail holders, it seemed like a perfect fit. Plus she let me know that they don't crease your hair and looks nice on your wrist in a pinch. I am sold. 

to win your own set of these super cute hair bands (a set of 5) , leave a comment of how you would rock them. a random winner will be picked on tuesday.
Again, the Cheap Thrill Project isn't sponsored. It was just a way for me to pass on really cool information from my friends to yours of the best of the best out there. Pass it on! 

sick puppy

Feel Better Pashy! We love you!

no elbows on the table

This plate of food could be yours. Seen on Charity Buzz

The CFDA and Vogue Magazine have teamed up on an online auction benefiting the Mayors Fund to Advance New York City in response to Hurricane Sandy. For fashion forward people (with money to burn) this is the place to go. One of the items up for bid is a dinner for you and guest with Mario Batali and Gwyneth Paltrow. For over $5,000, I am sure this would be a very lovely dinner but just in case....this is part of the terms and rules: "Polite manners and respect for the generous donor and adherence to any rules or parameters are a must." Like any Goop girl wouldn't be...

livin in the lap of luxury

At the end of my work day, as we are all packing up our bags and shutting down the computers, conversation with my coworkers can turn pretty random. A common game (like I think for a lot of people) is often what would you do if you won the lottery. But last night, it took a twist. Sophie proposed this. If you could have one luxury service on the daily, what would it be? My pick ended up being a live in hairdresser who could blow out my hair anytime. Oh man, how awesome would that be?

Image seen on Cruello

Or would you go the route of Doug and have an in home masseuse? 

 

Image seen on Doorstep Spa

What about someone who always has dinner ready?  

Chef seen Here

Some other popular office picks were maid, laundress and someone who comes in to stretch out your body! I am really curious, what would you pick? 

Cross that off the bucket list..

I didn't want people to go hungry (or thirsty)

For years, I have been desperate to be in a book club. Years ago, a close friend tried to start one. We each purchased the first book and never got any further than that.  For nearly 3 months, I peripherally joined a co-workers club, never going to the meetings (since she dropped out early) but would continue to read all of their books. My parents are both in clubs and sometimes I would try to keep up with their reads. I guess the reality was that I never wanted to start one, I just wanted to join one. And that is exactly what happened last night. Sure, I missed the first meeting but last night, we had the all important second meeting and I really enjoyed it. If anyone is interested, we read This is How You Lose Her by Junot Diaz. Are you in a book club? Do you want to be? What are you reading now?

oh tom....

Please pack your knives and go. Seen on TVGasm

Finally after what seemed like forever, Top Chef is back. This is one of the few shows that even after 10 seasons, I still really get into it. The chef's are no joke. When I was in Chicago a little over a year ago, I was able to go the Girl and the Goat, a Stephanie Izard (and only female Top Chef winner) restaurant and it was the bomb. For Maya and PB's birthday last year, we dined at Talde, another Top Chef alum, Dale Talde restaurant and homeboy was there running the amazingly yummy place. So I get it, these contestants are the real deal. But as much as I like the show, I like the NYMag.com recap even better.  For a show that takes itself fairly seriously, the recap is the perfect compliment making endless fun of both the contestants and judges.

It's in the stars...

Have you noticed the starry trend that is all over these days. From nails, to cake, people are into and inspired by both constellations and the overall galaxy. I have to say, I am totally drawn to it too but I am not much of a believer in astrology. What about you? Does your sign mean something to you? I am a Taurus but not sure what that says about me.  What sign are you? Maybe you can make me a believer.


From top left Cup of Jo Galaxy Nails, Rendij Studio Moon Calendar on Etsy, Constellation Cheesecake on Diamonds for Dessert, and Printable Constellation Map of Mr. Printable

enjoy it!

Seen On The Brink of Greatness

Should I?

Seen on They All Hate Us

Ever since I pinned this picture onto my Pinterest page, it stuck in my head. I love her entire approachable look but I especially love her sneakers. Since I still have my classic grey New Balance shoes that I wore in middle school (I am not kidding) and another pair that I wore in college, I am thinking that these might be what I want to break my spending freeze on. I am only slightly hesitant since the color is pretty different. Is it trendy? Could I wear them with lighter colors? Do I even wear light colors? Let me know what you guys think? Have you ever bought something you saw on Pinterest or in a random photo like this one?

Seen on Zappos

Mine are Blush and Bashfull

MP Daily Nail Picks by madelinepolton featuring essie nail polish

Congrats Sophie!

Enjoy Dating A Royal!

Please shoot me an note for your winnings!

Homeland

Based on your recommendations and the Sandy Time Warner Gift, PB and I are INTO Homeland. Within the week, we have already finished Season 1 and are now into Season 2. It's the bomb. When my sister Maya sent this to us, we died. Bloombito is totally talking about us. Enjoy!

rock it

From Sass & Bide

Cheap Thrill Project. Maya Nailed It

I think its time for something fun.

For those who don't know, Maya is my older sister. But a sister isn't enough of a word to describe her. maya is a smart, funny, amazing mom and even better friend.  And she almost always has her nails done. you know why? It's because Maya's cheap thrill is getting a manicure. Having nice nails is the cherry on top. Even in play clothes, when your nails are done, you look nice. So today, for the inaugural Cheap Thrill, I am giving away a $20.00 Gift Card to SpaFinder.com so that you can go get your nails did anywhere you want. 

Seen on Thank God I'm A Girl

To enter, leave a comment with the words CHEAP THRILL. If you want to add your favorite nail color too, that would be even better.  Winner will be selected at random on Wednesday. 

PS-- None of my Cheap Thrill Project is sponsored. It is just something fun from me to you. Pass it on to your friends!

Our Sunday Routine

As I have documented time after time here on the blog, Fairway Red Hook is where PB and I do our weekly shopping. This week and for the unforeseeable future, we won't be able to do that due to the major flooding and damage done by Hurricane Sandy. So while PB and I will find another place to shop in the meantime, we also wanted to give back the neighborhood that we love going to each Sunday. I know you have probably all been inundated with recovery relief, just in case here is more information about how to help Red Hook. 

A picture I snapped a few visits ago. 

Also, I love these marathoners!

Cheap Thrills- The Project

One of my more popular posts has been my Cheap Thrill suggestion about my favorite Revlon Just Bitten Lip Balms. I got emails, texts and even a phone call from friends and sisters about them which made me think. I know a fair amount of really impressive, cool, stylish, smart, funny (you get the point, I admire these people in all ways) women. And so I sent out an email asking them what their cheap thrills were. The only parameter was that it had be under $15.00.  I have compiled a list of their thoughts and am now ready to share with you, my readers. And here is the fun part. With each cheap thrill, I will give it away to one of you, drawing a name from the comments section of each Cheap thrill post. So stay tuned. Cheap thrills to come.

Play Clothes

Seen on J.Crew

When I was growing up, my dad had a pattern. Around 6 o'clock, he could come home in his suit from work and announce to us that he needed to change into his play clothes. He would head upstairs and return downstairs in jeans and a t-shirt. As a child, I thought for some reason that this was hilarious, this idea was my dad needing to put on clothes that made him fun. But now, as a 30 year old working stiff, I completely understand the concept of play clothes. After work, there is nothing more that I like to do is change into my "play clothes." From a  blouse, skirt and heels, does anything feel better than a broken-in t-shirt, leggings and slippers? Since I have been working at home this week due to Sandy, my play clothes have become my work clothes and each day, it's a pair of leggings with a new top for me. Looking at my work clothes, there is a small part of me that misses them. But these leggings sure do feel good.  Do you have play clothes? Clothes that you want to right away change into when you get home? What is it?