My Life, As Told Between (Baby Cakes') Naps

I know, I know.  I owe y’all a new post.  I actually have one in the works which started out as a cute concept but proved to be too difficult to execute.  So, like everything else difficult in my life, I’ve decided to give up on it.  At least for now.

In the meanwhile, you, my loyals readers, will just have to bear with yet another ill-conceived, stream-of-consciousness, random hodgepodge. 

Since I’m sure you’re all dying to know what purse I currently covet, here it is. 

Isn’t it great?  Can’t you just see me walking along the beach with it at sunset?  I showed the purse to my sister, who first scoffed at the notion that I was contemplating yet another purse purchase, then drooled when she saw it and started emptying out her piggy bank (she’s a student). 

I also really like these shoes:

I see these resting on my feet as I sip a latte at a cute European cafe.

When not dreaming of trips to the tropics or a life of leisure in Europe, I’ve been working.  Work’s been a little crazy recently, everyone’s stressed out and slightly on edge, and I’ve been much busier than I’d like.  (Sigh.) 

Managed to sneak away from the office long enough to see the Ashes and Snow photography exhibit in Santa Monica this weekend.  The photographs were fantastic.  The rest of it was…interesting.  There were some great video images (mostly humans in repose next to wildlife – elephants, orangutans, and cheetas, etc.), but the accompanying faux-deep running commentary was kind of crap.  To paraphrase, “In the beginning, elephants used to fly and would sleep with one eye open to watch over us.  When you look into the sky, that’s what you see…”  (Seriously.) 

The marathon’s this Sunday.  (Yay!)  I’m super excited.  I just have to avoid injury for the rest of the week!  Being tied to my desk should help with that…

Diet’s going okay.  (Eh.)  I actually managed to wear my thin jeans for an extended period of time and not die though.  Admittedly, I may have blacked out for a few moments from lack of oxygen.  Whatever.  Breathing’s overrated.

Oh, and if you haven’t tried it – Starbuck’s toffee nut latte.  (Yum.)  Get it.

Unfortunately the shoes did not work out.  I love these dresses though.  The one on the left I can actually semi-afford.  The one on the right is entirely outside of my budget.  I have no occasion to wear either however.  (For the love of God, someone give me an occasion!  Any occasion!!)

And I promise, at some point there will be something to this blog other than a series of pictures of things I want.  Really. 

I ordered these last week.  They should be arriving tomorrow.  Aren’t they beautiful? *Loving sigh*

The heels are over 3 inches tall, which means they’ll be insanely uncomfortable, but as long as I don’t attempt something silly, like walking in them, I should be fine.  And, hey, at least they’ll keep the hems of my new jeans from dragging the floor!

Yes, I also bought new jeans.  As soon as I lose a smidge of weight, the first thing I generally do is run out and foolishly buy a pair (or, um, three) of new jeans.  I often do this before verifying that the weight loss is due to something more than a temporary tear in the fabric of the universe.  I have a pair I bought a couple of years ago that I was only able to wear once before the universe righted itself again and they stopped fitting.  Well, either the tear is back and space/time as we know it is in danger or I’ve lost weight – I tried them on this week and am at the point where I can button them again.  A few more pounds and I might also be able to breathe while wearing them.  =)

Remember when I said I was done with purses?  I may have purchased another one last week.  It may have arrived in the mail today.  I may have been admiring it all morning.  The hypothetical purse may or may not look like the following (but in a rich, chocolatey brown):

I’m not admitting to anything, but I may have a problem.

I generally don’t follow high fashion, and consequently know nothing about it, but I stumbled across Christian Lacroix’s Spring 2006 line and really liked it.  There are some interesting and beautiful dresses.  These are two I particularly liked.  I absolutely love the first one (that shade of blue is a great foil to the white and gold, the skirt has a neat drape, and the shoulders are gorgeous). 

It’s funny what creates communities and how that changes over time and with age.  In college, we bonded over tv shows and music.  In law school, it was classes and law firms.  At work, it’s apparently, at least partially, shoes.  I was talking to two co-workers yesterday when both I and the other co-worker, C, noticed K’s shoes . . .

Me:  “Those are so cute!”

C:  “I love how they compliment that skirt.”

Me:  “Are they Marc Jacob’s?”

K:  “Yeah.  I love him.”

C:  [*laughs*] “I was at a friend’s party this weekend when I noticed this girls’s shoes.  I asked her if they were BCBG.  My boyfriend W was astonished that I recognize them when there are thousands of different shoes.  Guess I’m not the only one!”

Yes, this is the kind of in-depth converstation we have at work.  In some seriousness, it’s nice when you find commonalities, even when it’s something as innocuous as a preference for certain shoes.

Speaking of shoes, my new black pumps are the most comfortable shoes ever.  It’s like walking on clouds.  Or on fluffy sheep.  I mean, I clearly have to order them in brown too, right?   (Um, cause I already did.)  Hmm, and maybe another pair in black, for when these become worn out . . . 

I love this dress.  Yes, it’s a little promy, but it’s also fun, flirty and flattering to most body types.

These are fantastic handmade silver bracelets you can customize.  Just think of all the creative things you could write on them!  Or simply stamp your name on them.  Because, let’s face it, people like seeing their name on things.  (It’s not just me, right?)

My fashionista co-worker and I have spent many non-billable minutes eyeing these boots, which are cute and on sale, but impractical for LA.

This purse is adorable and makes me look forward to spring.

This may be the perfect light work jacket.  Its military-esquness might even inspire efficiency (although I guess the military isn’t really know for its efficiency).  Unfortunately, one of my work friends and I chipped in to buy it for another work friend, which means I can’t buy it myself.  This is especially unfortunate since this is the only item on the list I can actually afford!  =(

And last but not least, some of my favorite rings from my favorite Czech site.  They remind me a little of Frank Gehry’s designs (which I love), with a slightly more linear edge (if that makes any sense).  Gorgeous as they are though, the cost of shipping makes them merely a pipe dream.  This store alone makes me want to go back to Prague. 

In the spirit of Thanksgiving (at least its non-sentimental and materialistic side), here’s a list of fifty random (and purely material) things I’m thankful for, in no particular order: 

(1) Lucky jeans; (2) costume jewelry; (3) The Coffee Bean; (4) ipods; (5) pumpkin pie; (6) nut body butter; (7) shower water filters; (8) Splenda; (9) chocolate covered soy nuts; (10) Asics running shoes; (11) The Economist’s photo captions; (12) Mr. Darcy; (13) Cetaphil moisturizer; (14) Pixar films; (15) black teas; (16) Prescriptives makeup; (17) feather mattress pads; (18) Victoria Secret’s tangas; (19) Ambrosia apples; (20) Stargazers flowers; (21) Orion’s Constellation; (22) stadium seating; (23) dim sum; (24) Monty Python and the Holy Grail; (25) Sleek Look by Matrix hair care products; (26) Coach purses; (27) Serenity, the movie; (28) Udon noodles; (29) Winesburg, Ohio, the book; (30) down comforters; (31) The Daily Show; (32) tomato and mushroom pizzas; (33) Bill Bryson; (34) Gmail; (35) Sakonnet’s dry ice wines; (36) The Lord of the Rings Trilogy; (37) peppermint stick ice cream; (38) berry scented candles; (39) banana bread; (40) The Simpsons; (41) Spaceballs; (42) The Onion; (43) Sweet Retreat’s tangy frozen yogurt; (44) Issey Miyake’s L’eau d’Issey; (45) blogs; (46) H&M; (47) The New York Times; (48) The Reduced Shakespeare Company; (49) Carolina Herrera’s 212; (50) mint chocolate anything.

Enjoy your stuff, each other and your health.  =)  Hugs and Happy Thanksgiving all!

Made my first foray to the mall to start my Christmas shopping. Ended up with a suit, necklace, top, and pair of pants … for myself. Walked away from a cute argyle sweater and wool coat.  I really, really need to learn how to do this Christmas shopping for others things.

Sixteen mile run on Saturday was excellent! I’m hoping I’ll make the shorter eight mile run while at home this weekend. It’ll be hard to do anything between sessions of stuffing my face. If anyone feels like driving down to San Jose and joining me, or knows someone who knows someone who might consider it, please let me know! I hate running alone.  =(

Saw Pride & Prejudice.  Loved it.  Knew I would.  The best description I’ve heard of described this latest version as Jane Austin with a touch of Emily Bronte (no one thinks the person who wrote/said this was anything other than an English major, right?).  Much more melodramatic than most Austin adaptations.  There were some scenes where it could have easily been Heathcliff in the moors rather than Mr. Darcy in Hertfordshire.  Keira Knightly was a stunning, slightly giddy Lizzie (a little too glamorous to be totally believable though) and Matthew MacFadyen was probably the most endearing Mr. Darcy I’ve ever seen (more awkwardly shy than aristocratically aloof). 

Went to a Tiki Boat party in Newport Beach.  Got lost.  Went to a house party in Pasadena.  Got lost.  Had fun (when I eventually got there) though.

Still trying to churn through these documents.  In the meanwhile, here’s some randomness:

For those who haven’t seen it yet, this is a great site with old Weight Watcher’s recipes.  My favorite is probably the Mousse of Salmon, although there are many, many hilarious (and disgusting) recipes to choose from. 

I picked up a Michael Kors bag that was half the price of the Coach one I’ve been wanting and ordered a cute Fossil bag (see below) this week. 

This is it though.  I’m done with the purse thing.  One of them may even go back, depending on how much retail therapy I feel I need… although, they’ve finally exhausted my tax and 401K withholdings, so it’s practically like getting a raise!  =)  And for those keeping track of my recent purse purchases:  Purses recently purchased (4).  Purses returned (2).  Potential purse returns (1).

Am excited about going home for Thanksgiving.  Haven’t been home in months, as my grandmother frquently and tearfully reminds me.  It’s hard being the best-loved granddaughter (um, no offense B. and L.).  Anyways, if you’re in the Bay Area over Thanksgiving, give me a call.  And if you’re interested in going out in SF with my Quad friends Saturday Friday night, definitely give me a call!  

Oh, and please don’t let me within ten feet of anymore Halloween candy.  I think I may be sick.  (I don’t know why people seem to think that just because one’s not ten anymore and one is therefore ostensibly an “adult,” one has any more self control now than one did then.)

I’ve always liked the idea of chivalry, although I think it has to be flexible and change with the times.  I realize some gestures are without much meaning nowadays, such as walking on a certain side of the street,* however, holding doors open and holding chairs out will always be appreciated (at least by me).  I like the idea behind chivalry, the idea of putting someone else’s comfort and convenience above your own.  The form is irrelevant.  

This weekend, I saw a perfect example of how chivalry adapts and changes with the times.  While tailgating at a country concert (no comments please!), a cry of distress caught my attention.  The girl next to us had somehow ended up with a lapful of beer and was noticebly upset by it.  Her boyfriend, likely also very drunk, promptly poured his own beer into his lap.  He then looked into her woebegone face and asked in all seeming sincerity, “Feeling better now, Honey?”  Now that’s chivalry.  Stupid, yes.  But also a little sweet.

On a non-chivalrous note, I traded in my bubble-gum pink shoes for a purple pair, which will hopefully give my foot better support and possibly prevent pesky foot problems.  Sadly, I also returned my new brown purse, which, as I feared, did not look as good on my short frame as it did on the freaking six foot tall model (what does?).  Sigh.  I’ve put an order in for another brown bag, so we’ll see how this one turns out. 

* As I’ve heard it, this tradition supposedly originated with the man walking on the inside of the street to protect a woman from garbage thrown out of windows.  Adopted for more modern times, when garbage isn’t often flung from building windows, the man is supposed to walk on the traffic side of the street (um, to protect a woman from oncoming traffic?).  Personally, I’ve found that while the thought may be nice, the execution is highly annoying as it oftentimes necessitates switching sides mid-stroll.

Nope, it’s not capable of works of art.  Instead, I’ve just managed to do something funky to it so it’s been in pain for over a week now.  The thirteen mile run this weekend probably didn’t help (although I technically only ran eleven of those miles and limped the other two).  I thought buying new running shoes would cheer it up.  Unfortunately, the only color Top to Top (great running store in Santa Monica) had left in my shoe style was “bubblegum pink.”  Too lazy to go elsewhere, I bought them anyways.  I’ll be the embarrassed looking one running in Santa Monica next week. 

Am still looking for a brownish purse.  Saw some beautiful leather ones by Mulberry this weekend, all of which were at least $1,000 – well over my splurge spending limit.  It’s a sad, sick world we’re living in when beautiful things made from dead animals cost over $1,000.  There was a New York Times article recently about the high-end purse phenomenon (it’s archived so I won’t bother linking to it).  Favorite quotes from the article include:  “For some women, finding the right bag is as important as oxygen” and “A bag is sort of like a portable house.  It represents you.”*  Seriously though?  Seriously? 

I picked up an FDR biography this weekend.  It’s over 1,300 pages so there’s a good likelihood I’ll never finish it.  I think I’m a pretty fast reader, but my fickleness will almost gaurantee that I’ll be finished with my FDR obession long before I actually finish this biography.

Oh, and speaking of obsessions, I saw Serenity again.  Don’t laugh.

*I wonder what this Dooney & Bourke bag says about its owner?  Caution:  This is a link to what is possibly the ugliest bag I’ve ever seen.

Off to Chicago this week for a firm training event.  Hopefully, I’ll see some of you when I get there!  I’m sure I’ll come back wanting to move there (again).  Unfortunately, moving to Chicago necessarily involves not living in California anymore and I’m not quite ready to leave just yet.  Plus, it’s cold there.

Also, on a blog-keeping note, I’ve finally figured out how to post pictures.  For those of you who requested a picture of the retro-y dress I alluded to in an earlier post, I actually found an occasion in which to wear it (to celebrate one of my best friend’s being done with his PhD!) and have pictures to post.  As soon as I figure out how to strategically crop it to maximize anonymity and minimize my waistline, I’ll post it.  =)

Updated:  See below!  (If this headless photo creeps you out, let me know.  I’m not sure about this including pictures thing yet.)  How cute would this dress look with any one of the green bags I’ve been eyeing?  It would also look great with this exorbitantly expensive, but gorgeous, chocolate bag or this much more affordable, and eminently more purchasable, brown bag.

P.S.  Happy Birthday Bud!  Love you!

My friend ML has pointed out that I’ve been sadly remiss in updating everyone on my latest purchases and/or coveted items. Apparently not knowing the state of my closet is causing her some consternation. =)  Rest assured that, despite being super busy recently, I’ve taken some time out for selfish consumerism.  In the past few weeks, I’ve managed to acquire a cute retro-y dress (cute but impractical as it’s too casual for work and too dressy for virtually everything else), a green blazer (am loving green recently), a belt, jeans and a light jacket (for my morning runs).  Am looking for new black pumps, since coloring my old faded black ones with a permanent marker no longer seems to be cutting it (people are starting to talk), and a green and/or cognac purse. Green because it’s a pretty, fall color and cognac because it would go well with some outfits I have.

I’ve been eyeing this green bag but it’s much more than I would ever spend on a purse.* 

I can only justify my crass consumerism to a certain extent.  Besides, I’m not one of those people who carry the world in their purses.  I think I’d feel silly carrying a wallet, blackberry and cell phone in that (gorgeous) monstrosity.  I’d have to start making up things I need just so I could fill up the purse.  Although, it might be kind of fun to carry random things in my purse so that I can surprise people with them. (“What, you need ketchup? Why I happen to have a bottle in my purse!”)**

*I also love this green one and this other one, but they don’t work quite as well with business casual. 

[Updated to add:  I also love this purse.] 

**Sorry, ketchup was the funniest random thing I could think of at the moment.  Give me a break.  I’ve spent all day reading a very dry, very long contract!

(I’ve also donated money to my firm’s Katrina fund so I’m not totally worthless.  Cause money can ease one’s conscience and make everything okay, right?  Not that I need to explain myself or anything.  Ack!  Stop judging me!) 

I think I have pink eye.  I’ve never had it before so I’m not sure what the symptoms are, but if the symptoms involve having a pink eye, then there’s a good chance I have it.  How does anyone over the age of five get pink eye?!  I have a hard enough time getting the respect I deserve as a ferocious litigator (don’t laugh) without adding a pink eye into the mix.  This means I now have to sit down and figure out my firm’s byzantine health care benefits and find a doctor.  Joy.  I may just opt to put up with pink eye for the rest of my life. 

On a more positive note, I spent a relaxing weekend in San Jose surrounded by my doting family.  The only unpleasant interlude was a visit from some old friends of my parents, who proceeded to tell me how great I look now, as compared to the ball of lard I apparently was as a child.  Rather then valiantly defend my former pudgy (pudgier?) self, my parents merely laughed.  Ouch.

And for those keeping track, these are my purchases for the weekend:  several books, a suede hobo (I actually bought a bag, saw another one as I left the store, went home anyways, immediately regretted it, drove the nine miles back to the store, returned it and exchanged it for another one – in tan, not green like the picture, although the green one is gorgeous), fantastic cream/green slippers, and a white dress.  It’s helping me getting over the loss of my sole mate.  (G – you are too cute!)    

[UPDATE:  No pink eye.  Just my hypochondria acting up.  While at the eye doctor however, I did get new glasses.  I’m not one to pass up an opportunity to waste money.]

But I had to return my shoes.  They were too big.  (Damn my small feet!)

It’s official.  I’ve crossed the river.  (Goodbye Soul!  Hello Cute New Shoes!)  But it wasn’t my fault.  See, the shoes were on sale (and $200 is several degrees more reasonable to spend on shoes than $300) and the only size they had left happened to be my size (7, in case anyone ever wants to buy me shoes).  Besides, it was recently my birthday so this is like a birthday gift to myself (thank you to all of you who sent me birthday wishes; I hope the rest of you feel bad for forgetting!).  =)  Plus, I’ve been wanting them FOREVER.   Or at least since April.  

Anyways, clearly fate was telling me I must have these shoes.  I still haven’t managed to return the other ones so I guess I technically have two pairs of $200 shoes.  I really should be shot.  (*hangs head in shame, secretly smiling at thought of how cute shoes will look on feet*)

I’ve discovered my Rubicon and it’s $200 Shoes.  After choosing an outfit specifically so I could wear my new shoes today, I found myself unable to leave my apartment in them this morning.  I hovered at the threshold of the apartment for several agonizing moments before finally returning to my room and donning a different pair of shoes.  As much as I love them (more then my new pants, but not as much as my new purse), I just can’t spend over $200 for a pair of painful heels that I’ll likely only wear twice.  I am not going to be that person (not to judge people who are those people, some of whom happen to be my friends).  Sigh.  I need to return them soon so this won’t be a daily struggle.  A part of me is crying over their impending loss, but a larger part of me is relieved to retain that portion of my soul for awhile longer.  I’m sure I’ll cross the river of no return eventually, but at least it wasn’t today. 

I have a horrible tendency to get lost.  It doesn’t matter where I’m going, how easy it is to get there, or how often I’ve been there.  Chances are pretty high that I’ll get lost along the way. 

On Friday, I drove from downtown LA to Westwood.  Those of you who are familiar with LA will recognize that this is a fairly simple route.  Those of you who remember I went to UCLA will realize that I actually lived in Westwood for several years.  Those of you who know me well will not be surprised that I ended up hopelessly lost anyways.  I only called for directions when I accidentally hit Venice Beach.  Ordinarily, I’m content to wander the roads of LA, confident that I will eventually find my way to my destination, but when I hit the ocean, that’s a pretty good sign I’m going to need help.  Luckily, I have very patient people in my life who are willing to act as my personal GPS systems. 

On Saturday, I went from a barbeque to a magic show (sidenote:  wore a cocktail dress to the barbeque because the magic show venue required formal attire, ended up smelling like barbeque at the magic show because, well, I was at a barbeque).  Six miles and ninety minutes (!) later, my friend and I finally arrive at the magic show.  Thanks to my impeccable sense of direction, we made a wrong turn every single time a turn was required.  Thanks to the Alicia Keys concert at the Hollywood Bowl and the fact that it’s LA, every mistaken turn took an addition 20 minutes to rectify.  

On Sunday, I went shopping.  Oddly enough, I did not get lost.  I did however (*gulp*) buy more shoes.  I blame this particular purchase on one of my shopping buddies, aka The Enabler.  They’re really, really cute though and only kind of impractical and painful.     

P.S. Notice that I didn’t mention doing any work this weekend.  Yay!!

What I _am_ currently obsessed with is purses (see preceding post).  I’ve even sunk so low as to spend countless hours reading…please pity me…blogs devoted exclusively to them.*  Yes, there are blogs devoted entirely to purses.  Here’s one, here’s another one, and this one is probably my favorite.**  I’m sure there’s some deep psychological explanation for this recent phenomenon though.  There has to be.  I refuse to believe it’s just because I’m shallow.  I may need to become a vegetarian or save the world or something to make myself feel better.  Or, better yet, maybe I’ll just buy another purse.

Speaking of which, the newest one I ordered from ebay arrived yesterday.  It’s a beautiful deep red.  It’s not designer, it’s not expensive, and it’s not even real leather (the horror!), but I absolutely love it.  I love it so much that I had to scramble to find an appropriate outfit to complement the purse this morning.  Unfortunately I hadn’t picked up my dry cleaning yet and was left with very few options.  Even more unfortunately, the outfit I ended up wearing made me look a bit like a sailor (white slacks and a black top with some white piping), but it was worth it to sport the new purse.  All the way to the office.  Where is sat in my desk drawer.  All day.  Moldering.  And I sat at my desk.  All day.  Moldering.  Mired in a seemingly endless, tedious, overwhelming, frustrating and complicated document review project.   

Um, I really need to go buy a purse now.

*And yet I wonder why I’m still only half-way through the five books I’ve been reading for the last several months!

**I would never actually _spend_ that much on a purse.  I’m entirely too thrifty (read “cheap”).  Many of the purses which are highlighted actually elicit a great deal of confusion on my end.  However, I’m absolutely fascinated by people’s preferences.  Especially when they’re very pronounced.  What makes an object desired by one person and disdained by another?  Why do people have such diverse opinions on beauty?  (Although perhaps this applies primarily to objects.  Haven’t there been some studies that have found there are certain social/cultural norms universally defining attractiveness in humans?)^

^Apologies for the long (and boring) post.  I’ll try harder next time.  =)  Also, those of you who actually enjoy the interplay between texts and footnotes should read this book.