Happy Britney Day!

As Britney drops her latest album, Femme Fatale, today, I wanted to wish you a Happy Britney Day and leave you with one of my favorite songs off of her album:

R's Friday Food Porn

N's Friday Food Porn

Mediterranean Mezze

Splish Splash

Ah, spring. This is the time of year when I'm ecstatic that a few 85ºF days are thrown my way and that pretty things are blooming. Then that nagging voice in the back of my head says "You do know that after months of hiding under big sweaters and indulging your inner fat kid, you now have to wear a bathing suit in public? And you've become uber pale, so there's no base tan to give you that faux-lean look?"

Have no fear. The geniuses in fashion have finally come up with some super sexy ways to be comfortable. Granted, these suits are probably only practical for lying in the sun and having someone serve you drinks, but look how pretty they are! You can change into something sportier when it's time to get in the water.

Badgley Mischka BM11. This style is so unique. The color is great, and I like the detail on the strap.

La Blanca by Rod Beattie One Piece Bandeau. The rouching on this one seems nice and subtle. Plus, it won't cause weird tan lines up top!

Jantzen Heritage Ruffled Bikini. This would be good for those who can wear bikinis but want more butt coverage without a really obvious skirt. The top actually looks surprisingly supportive too.

Magicsuit Goddess Convertible One Shoulder. I'm always drawn to Grecian styles and mustard. It's convertible into a bandeau too!

Victoria's Secret Plunge Tankini. This looks like the swim version of a classic LBD.

All I need now is a great beach and a hot cabana boy!

Great Find at Nordstrom Rack!

It's no secret that I love going to Nordstrom Rack and getting great pieces!  I think its a fun adventure that sometimes ends up with a great present. I tend to let everyone know about the great deals I find.

So on Sunday, I went to our local Nordstrom Rack and stumbled upon BURBERRY RAIN BOOTS!  I have been obsessing about these for SUCH a long time that when we found them, G practically begged me get them (pretty much so he'd stop hearing me talk about them).  Aren't they beautiful:

I also found a Michael Kors raincoat, which is great timing because of the monsoons in the Bay Area.

YIPPEEE!

New Jewelry Armoire

For as long as I can remember, I've been struggling with how to organize or store my costume jewlery.  When I was younger, I had plastic items that allowed you to hang earrings or bracelets from it (for example, I had a tree that had tons of holes for earrings, or a hand that hung all my bracelets).  Yes, this is how cool I am.

Now as an adult, and one that shares a room with a guy who already thinks I have enough stuff, I've been trying to find something that's easy to store things in, has lots of compartments, allows me to separate all my jewelry - and that's when I thought of a jewelry armoire.  Not one that sits on my dresser (I still have one like this at my parent's house), but a floor standing grown up jewelry armoire:

I finally decided on a Morikami Jewelry Armoire from Pier1.  I watched it for a while, just trying to make sure it was the one I wanted.  I am super happy with the product; however, I'm not so happy with Pier1.  They mislabel items, and they refuse to honor the price that was on the label.  That's another story.

For now, I'm happy with my armoire.

No Food Post for R - Blogger's Day of Silence

N's Friday Food Porn

Homemade Coconut Samoas

How Can I Drown When I'm Not in Water?

I know that we typically keep this blog light with pictures of food and rants of fashion.  However, in true spirit of an "online diary," I'll be the downer (which is unlike me, and in 15 minutes I'll try to delete this post).

N wrote about the Peter Pan syndrome the other day.  When I read that post, I slowly realized that I feel overwhelmed.  When I mentioned this to G$, he said "you always feel like that" (man - testosterone sure makes them  smooth talkers who always know what to say).  After my conversation with him, I started thinking...and if I always feel like that (which I don't), does it mean that I'm drowning in my adult responsibilites. 

People who know me and see me consistently, may sit back and say "really - you?  even for a spaz, you look like you have it together."  What can I say, I'm a fabulous actress.  When I was a kid, I put 115% into everything so I wouldn't disappoint my parents.  As I went thru college, my competitive nature continued so that I wouldn't get the lowest grade in my class and then lose pride with my study buddies (in my world, having the second lowest was ok - so that's what I aimed for).  But as an adult, I find the most overwhelming thing being that its impossible to find the one important item you can't fail at - they're all equally important.

Lately, I've realized that between work travels, personal life, love life, family and myself - I have no time left. 

• If I miss the gym, I disappoint myself
• If I don't excel at my job and am the best one on my team (I seriously asked my boss the other day if I was going to get a bad grade - WTH is wrong with me) - I then disappoint the people who hired me, and provide confirmation to those who didn't want to hire me.
• If I don't call my friends back (which I've been awful about lately), I feel like I'm being a bad friend
• If I don't have patience for my husband or family, those are the parties that I'm disappointing

And I honestly feel like that there's demands on these things daily.  Don't get me wrong, I love my good friends (ones that don't judge me and those who don't say hurtful things to me), my job, working out, my husband and my family - but I have my moments when I'm stretched really thin.

Any advice out there from people who've felt the same way?

N's Friday Food Porn: St. Patrick's Day Edition

Irish Coffee

"Everything Bagel" Soda Bread

Colcannon

Peter Pan Complex

Two different blogs that I follow posted today about being a grown-up. More specifically, about the things we figured we'd just miraculously know when we reached that mighty adult status. Honestly? I still feel like a kid about 42% of the time, and I'm glad about that.

Read this post about faking it, because I couldn't describe it nearly as well as that writer does. I totally fake it. I nod and smile or just throw out go-to phrases when it comes to things I "should" know about finances or work or relationships or homeownership or the world.* What I'm wondering now is if everyone else is faking the same things. Are we running around thinking we're clueless when, in fact, no one actually has any idea what the hell he or she is talking about? Are some of us also freaking out about not knowing what to do with our lives or not accomplishing what we expected by now and not realizing that everyone else has the same concerns? If so, maybe we should all stop faking it. Then we'd just feel normal in comparison. This calls for a pro/con list about adulthood.

• Pro: being able to do whatever you want without answering to anyone (within reason)
• Con: having to make your own decisions when sometimes it would be easier to have mommy and daddy just tell you what to do
• Pro: earning money
• Con: managing money
• Pro: dressing like an adult
• Con: wondering when you're too old to shop in certain stores or when certain outfits are inappropriate for your growing curves
  
• Pro: feeling accomplished when you successfully complete "grown up" milestones
• Con: feeling pressured to achieve said milestones

I obviously have a love/hate relationship with aging. In general, I lean towards loving it. :)

*Note that I did not mention pop culture or food. Those are two things I never have to fake. I'm so useful and intelligent.

BTW...

R's Friday Food Porn : Smores!

For the past few days, all I can think about is smores...doesn't this just look delicious:

N's Friday Food Porn: Mardi Gras Edition

If I were in New Orleans this week, I'd start my days with this first photo and end them with the second. Carbs and caffeine and sugar and alcohol are allowed in excess on vacation, no?

Beignets

Hurricanes

Phone Dating 101

As a general rule, I hate talking on the phone. Maybe that's why I'm a scientist with a job that allows me to leave my office phone untouched for days. Luckily, the four people I have on speed dial on my cell have been patient about the fact that, while I enjoy speaking to them, I just don't call often enough.

To reap the full benefits of online dating, I've had to face my phone aversion - because sometimes it just makes sense to speak before meeting up. Although maybe my soulmate is a dude who will just write me long, entertaining emails and engage in witty text banter. Ah, if only.

If any boys were reading this, I'd present them with the following advice when calling a girl for the first time - whether they met online, in a bar, were set up by a friend, whatever:

1. If you've never conversed before and you say you're going to call, then CALL. Don't start a text convo. The only acceptable texts at this point are "Hey, are you busy or can I call now?" or "I'm just finishing up dinner but will give you a buzz at 8."
2. Don't call while you're driving, killing time at an airport, grocery shopping, or doing something else otherwise distracting.
3. E-nun-ci-ate.
   
4. Share equal responsibility for filling up the dreaded but inevitable awkward pauses.
5. Don't fill up awkward pauses with inane questions like "Sooo, what's going on?"
6. Don't make fun of the girl unless it's very, very clear that you're being flirtatious.
7. If you want to meet up or talk again, then say so before hanging up.
8. Listen. Did you know that if you repeat the same question twice in one conversation, it kind of shows the other person that you have no idea what they've been saying? It's true.

Love these Earrings

I love these Amrita Singh earrings.  They look similar to the earrings that I borrowed from D and then lost in Napa...OOPS.  But I got these from Rue La La in hopes to replace them for her.

Don't you just love these?