The Awards Continue...

The SAG Awards red carpet is never super exciting since it's a smaller show, but of course I watched anyway. Here are my picks. Oh and may I just comment on how refreshing it's been to see Jane Lynch in girly dresses this year? Way to shake things up.

Heather Morris (aka Brittany S. Pierce) in Romona Keveza

Eva Longoria in Georges Hobeika

Sofia Vergara in Roberto Cavalli

John Krasinski in Prada

LL Cool J in Gucci

N's Friday Food Porn

Nutella Doughnuts

In my prime...

I can't believe neither N nor I have blogged about this yet.  SO - I knew about primer, I had tried it when I tried Bare Essentials (YUK!) and didn't see what the big deal was.  Then last year, Miss N came to visit she brought me a sample size of Smashbox Primer.  YOU GUYS!  This is the best thing ever.  RUN...stop reading and run to Nordies, Sephora, ULTA, etc and get this!

I swear - my makeup could stay and has stayed on thru a full day of work, happy hour, dinner, late night out, quick "nap," 6:00 am P90x workout - all looked like I had just applied my makeup.  If that doesn't convinced you....nothing will!

Another favorite Smashbox product is their Halo powder.  Gravy Train has been preaching about this stuff for a while, and I finally took her up on it.  O-M-G!  I LOVE it.  Especially to travel with it, its like a pressed powder, and with a twist of a dial it shaves into a loose powder!  That's INGENIOUS!  So I especially love it when I travel because its easy and makes me look like a million bucks!

Thank me later!

Stumbled Upon on a Sale Rack...

Except for the shoes, this entire outfit was less than $30 and all found at the Gap in Los Gatos!  I was super excited.  I like how it still looks professional but fun.  And I learned from Mrs. A that leggings do count as black pants :)

Friday Food Porn

Tuna tartare may be one of my most favorite things.  I recently had it with caviar on top and it was amazing!  When making it at home (and in restaurants), I do prefer it with sesame/chili oil rather than mayo. 

Yummm.....Happy Friday!

"Let's Go Out for a Drink"

America's Department Store

Without realizing it, I took photos of a few different Macy's stores over the holidays. I thought I'd share since it amuses me for some reason.

Garden City, NY. 27 Dec 10. The sign of a true blizzard (or hell freezing over).

Herald Square, Manhattan, NY. 29 Dec 10. Magical.

Union Square, San Francisco, CA. 3 Jan 11. So that's how they get those big ornaments on and off the tree!

2010 Reunion-a-RoNi #6 / 2011 Reunion-a-RoNi #1

Yeah, this is a bit delayed. I was going to title this "A New Decade-a-RoNi," but there's some controversy about whether the new decade actually started last year or this year. L-Woww says it starts this year since there was no Year 0, and I tend to agree.

My, how things have changed since we last had a reunion-a-RoNi for New Years Eve! A lot happens in...6 years?

Friday: Flew to SFO (9 hrs after arriving home from NY, mind you). Reunited with R and G$, lunched, bummed, and got dolled up. Dined on Italian food, vino, and bubbly with some additional company while I kept having to go upstairs and reglue R's false eyelashes that I was sporting that night. Freaked out the religious brown cab driver who took us to Sino. Holed up at our private table for hours of drinking, people watching, silly photos, party horns, and ringing in 2011. Went home to drink more, eat tater tots (of course), and pass out.

Saturday: Found a show called "What Did I Do Last Night?" on a British channel and settled on the couches amid piles of blankets watching until the sun went down. Literally. It was awesome. Finally showered, went out for pho, and returned to said couches.

Sunday: R and G$ decided that I should finally see a couple of the wineries that she always promises to take me to. Hit up Savannah Chanelle for a tasting, told the man there we were ChEs, and got to see their lab and barrel room. Sampled and purchased their awesome mustard. Headed to Cinnabar for another tasting. Lunched and returned to...you guessed it, the couches. :)

Monday: R and I headed into the city and started with a round-trip walk over the Golden Gate Bridge. Marveled at the clear weather and gorg views. Had yummy vegetarian sliders at The Plant. Walked around, headed to Union Square, shopped, gossipped, etc. Gorged on Thai food at Osha and headed home.

Tuesday: Spa Day! Massages, jacuzzi, sauna, lunch, and beautification at Burke Williams. Shopping at Santana Row. Rough afternoon. Went home to get G$ and go pig out at Los Altos Grill. Debated staying up all night in preparation for my 5:30am flight but did not.

Wednesday: Woke up at the crack of dawn and made R and G$ take me to the airport like the wonderful guest that I am. Sad goodbyes.

Let Awards Season Begin!

Actually, let red carpet season begin. Let's not even try to lie about being more excited about "Best Director" than about what everyone is wearing.
My 5 fave overall looks from the 2011 Golden Globes, in no particular order:

Olivia Wilde in Marchesa

Catherine Zeta-Jones in Monique Lhuillier


Amy Adams in Marchesa


Sarah Hyland in Max Azria


Jenna Ushkowitz in Rebecca Taylor

Do or Don't?

I've heard about a lot of random advances in beauty/fashion lately, and most of them straddle the line between insanity and genius IMO. I just can't decide.

• Eyelash extensions. Apparently they cost the same amount overall as getting manicures each week (not that I do that), and are great at attracting the dudes. But what happens when your man sees you without your "come hither" eyelashes for the first time?
• Pajama jeans. I heart pajamas, so this sounds fabulous in theory. But...uh...really now? Maybe they'll make cuter ones in the future.
• Bootights. Now, these sound like something I might actually buy. Plus, Oprah endorses them!

N's Friday Food Porn

As a follow-up to R's post yesterday, I must say that if I won the lottery I would try to build up my creative side (a big task, mind you) and be a professional food blogger. In the meantime, I'll live vicariously. I love, love looking at great photos of great foods that just make me want to reach into the monitor and gobble them up.

So today, I give you comfort food for the cold weather:

Brazilian Black Bean and Smoked Tofu Stew with Chipotle Cornbread

Lusting After: Kate Spade Halle Shoes

Known as the power shoe, I've been lusting after these.  And since I'm a woman of power (ha ha!), I think these may find themselves into my closet this weekend.

If I Hit the Lottery...

Or came into some fat inheritance, I'd quit my day job and do one of the following 3 jobs:

1.  Personal Shopper:  There's nothing I love more than spending other people's money to help find them clothes / shoes / accessories.

2.  Food/Wine Traveler:  The ability to travel the world thru food and wine?!  Enough said.

3.  Beach Bar Owner:  Sun, waves, sand, booze?!  And hot guys to look at?!  This wouldn't be so bad.

NEW BRITNEY SPEARS!

Yes, I'm a few days late.  In the event you live under a rock or on Mars, here's the new Britney Spears track "Hold It Against Me."

I hope this mean she goes on tour this year!  EEEK!  Gravy Train and I will be there - hair blind and all!

Life Roles - A New One I Like :)

As we grow older, there are many roles we all play in life.  So far, I've played the role of:  Daughter (both rebellious and perfect :P), Friend, Girlfriend, Fiance, Co-Worker, and as of two years ago, wife.

This wife one is interesting to me.  The dictionary defines wife as:  "a woman joined in marriage to a man; a woman considered in relation to her husband; spouse."  I guess the dictionary neglects to mention what the role actually entails.  I feel like this is the main one that is different based on the relationship, person, country, age, etc. 

For my mom, a good wife is one who has a hot meal and a clean house waiting for her husband.  Nothing wrong with this definition - its just not how I see things.  For some, a wife is a companion to her husband.  They are joined by love and share common experiences and a life together.  For others, a wife is a person they are joined to by law but don't necessarily share a life with.  They have their own life that is parallel to their wives.  For me,  I don't know if I have a clear role definition yet.  I think its a combination of all the things written above.  I definitely think that at first, I defined my success as a wife based on my mother's definition.  The latest appeal of this role is being the charming other half at work related events.  When the relationship first starts, I spent so much time charming friends and family that I forgot that I still "had" it and that my husband found it appealing.  In the past few weeks, I've had G$ ask me to attend various work events and I've even been invited by his fellow peers (I'm going to a "tweetup" in a few weeks because I was asked to attend with him).  I think this is my favorite part of the role. 

So for the time being, here's what I see as my role as the wife in our family:  CFO, Secretary (G$ double books us ALL THE TIME because he can't use the Google Calendar), the one who networks (remembers birthdays, gifts, cards, etc), and my favorite:  the intelligent and hot (haha, i had to throw something vain in!) lady on my husbands arm while he works. 

I realize that the last part of it is a bit old fashioned...but that's the kind of lady I am. :)

To Baby or Not to Baby

What seems like a private conversation that typically happens between a couple is now a fair game question for anyone/everyone to ask.  I assumed that this question would simply be for the Indian adults that lack tact.  However, what I'm starting to notice and realize that its not simply a question reserved for the 50+ year old subsect of Indian adults.

I don't understand when this became a question that is fair game to ask.  First and foremost, I don't understand how this affects anyone else's life.  I suppose the next time someone asks and insists that "we must have them," I should retort with "are you going to help support them for the next 18 years."

When people ask the question, and I respond with "I'm not sure yet.  There's alot I still feel like I haven't accomplished at work / personal life."  Oftentimes, that answer comes back with a "shock" look or a "WTF is wrong with you" expression.

I'm of the mindset - that if its meant to be it will be.  But I'll be honest - it is just not the right time for me.

Reverb 10 : Day 31 for R (Sorry for the delay!)

Day 31 Prompt: Core Story. What central story is the core of you, and how do you share it with the world?

Does a story of "always do the right thing" count has a central story that is the core of you?  Because if it does, then I think that's my core story.  Doing the right thing in situations is something I've allowed to take over my life and behavior.  I allow myself to easily be guilted if I'm ever not doing the "right" thing.

Reverb 10: Days 25-31 for N

Day 31 Prompt: Core Story. What central story is the core of you, and how do you share it with the world?

This, the final day, is the hardest. I Googled a bit to see what kind of answers other people gave, and there is one common statement: I have no core story. I agree. That doesn't mean I have no life, it just means that there is no way to sum myself up. Actually, R and I were kind of discussing this last weekend after I said I'm just a normal person and don't have that one single attribute that makes people want to get to know me. We decided that no one really does - it's the sum of all parts that matters. If you play a lot of roles such as daughter and sister and friend and engineer and single woman, each one contains a completely different core story of yourself and is shared with the world in its own way.


Day 30 Prompt: Gift. This month, gifts and gift-giving can seem inescapable. What's the most memorable gift, tangible or emotional, you received this year?

I received four especially memorable gifts this year, all for my birthday, and they are significant to different phases of my life.

• The Past: my photo book
• The Present: a new phone from Ree & C and the matching right hand ring that R & I got
  
• The Future: a gift card from my parents to fly wherever my next adventure takes me

Day 29 Prompt: Defining moment. Describe a defining moment or series of events that has affected your life this year.

There was a period early in 2010 when I had a series of first dates. That's not a big deal in most people's lives, but it was a bit of a whirlwind for me. The rollercoaster of being excited and nervous and wary, having to decide what to wear and what to say and what to eat, figuring out how many chances to give them before I end things (because, let's face it, I almost always want to end it)...it was pretty taxing but oh so much fun.


Day 28 Prompt: Achieve. What's the thing you most want to achieve next year? How do you imagine you'll feel when you get it? Free? Happy? Complete? Blissful? Write that feeling down. Then, brainstorm 10 things you can do or 10 new thoughts you can think in order to experience that feeling today.

As much as I hate to say this because it's cliche and not "me", I'd like to regain a good body image. I'm not setting any measurable goals, but I just want to manage all of the changes that randomly came about, with no warning, as I turned 30. Hopefully this slow process will allow me to feel more confident in my appearance.


Day 27 Prompt: Ordinary joy. Our most profound joy is often experienced during ordinary moments. What was one of your most joyful ordinary moments this year?

Whenever my family gets together, we spend a good chunk of each morning sitting around the kitchen drinking chai and doing nothing. It's my favorite part of our reunions, the cozy part of the day before people go off in their separate ways.


Day 26 Prompt: Soul food. What did you eat this year that you will never forget? What went into your mouth and touched your soul?

In Athens, we ate at Erato like 3 times. We made friends with owners of the restaurant and they treated us like family, bringing dish after dish of things we might like, letting us taste their own meals, and literally spoon-feeding us fresh veggies and fruits from their garden. The best thing about the food was that it was so simple and fresh...homemade bread, olive oil, hummus, tzaziki, feta, souvlaki, watermelon...heaven.


Day 25 Prompt: Photo - a present to yourself. Sift through all the photos of yourself from the past year. Choose one that best captures you; either who you are or who you strive to be. Find the shot of you that is worth a thousand words. Share the image, who shot it, where, and what it best reveals about you.
Sorry, I have to refer to Greece again. This may not really capture who I am, but isn't it a cool photo? It was taken in Santorini by one of my traveling companions. I can easily come up with all sorts of symbolism about being in my natural state, looking up towards the mountains, and having the sun's rays beaming up, but I'll just let it speak for itself.