Feel Like a Woman... Wear a Dress.

Whenever I'm in a bad mood, going through a breakup, or feeling general malaise I have a tendency to do it up. This is a fact I discovered in college after a bad break-up, but there's something about feeling like absolute crap that motivates me to put on a great outfit, do something with my mop head, put on my highest heels and accessorize the hell out of myself. Now, I'm not sure if it's the bottle of wine I had for dinner last night or my general sensitivity, but this morning I woke up naked and in a rut. While looking through my closet I found my $30 Target DVF wrap dress knock off, and it hit me. Perhaps it was Diane's famous, "Feel like a woman... Wear a dress", but I knew in that instant that today would be a Carrie Bradshaw day. And not just any CB day, but CB when she followed the Politician on his campaign trail and was inspired by Jackie O, day.

A permanent fixture in my fashion inspiration file.

Now, hours later I feel like a whole new woman and even found myself strutting and turning heads, which is always something that puts a little spring in my step.

The eternal woman, Miss Diane Von Furstenberg.

xoxo bebes.

Welcome to the boys club

Everything with the new apartment is wonderful! The boys, the Mark Texiera Bar, my estrogen filled, pink room- it's all amazing. I actually LOVE coming home to my two favorite idiots and watching TV all night.

After explaining the new digs with many different people (before I moved in) I got two general impressions about moving in with dudes; Women thought it was a great idea. We all saw eye-to-eye on the "not taking things personally when arguing about cleaning" front. Guys, however, always gave me a,"uuuhhh... really think about moving in with guys". Upon further questioning, they just wouldn't answer. I always got a, "just really think about it".

Now, after a month, I think I'm starting to get what they were talking about. Although they're really great, decently clean and funny as all hell, living with boys completely screws with your head... at least when it comes to other boys. All the over analyzing I usually do is now over totally different things! And this is that I consider myself an exceptionally cool chick. There's no more, "what did this mean", or "what was he trying to say with that silence", instead, I'm sitting here wondering if my entire approach to men has been wrong all along!

But what happens when you actually meet a presumably really great guy? What if all the things that freak out my roomies (commitment of any sort, monogamy, meeting the parents, vacations, etc.) would in no way freak out the newbie? What if for once, this very guy is actually what he seems to be from the get-go, and all this "alpha male" input just manifests into relationship self doubt? He, after all, MUST think I'm amazing just as I am- should I really let my new found skepticism get in the way? I mean they can't all turn out to be idiots, right? Right?

Oye vey.

I've got to do something about the way I look. I mean a girl just can't go to Sing Sing with a green face.

I've been planning and dreaming about it, but it's finally here- my first grown up party in the new place! My best friend, and the most fabulous girl I know, Miss Ophelia, will be visiting with her great boyfriend and another friend from Paris. The plan is for them to come over for aperitifs (cocktails, cheese, pate)  and then head out for dinner at a charming bistro. All the different parts of my personality, have merged into one, super "Elegant Me" and I'm ready to throw a fete in the style of Miss Holly Golightly herself. I have the dress, the up-do, the space, the menu, the fabulous guests, the wonderful (not to mention handsome) boy, BUT (and this is a big but) I also have the bachelor pad! Can I possibly throw a classy pre-dinner party in the same apartment that has a leather sectional and He Pingping hanging on the wall (no matter how much I love the little guy)?

The woman herself managing to stay perfectly composed in a sea of partying madness!

Should I just continue with the candles, flowers, etc as if these apartment staples weren't there? Do I hide the unbearable things for a while?

I'll take any suggestions you may have!

Bisous!

You can bring me flowers, baby, when I'm dead and gone

What is it about an ex that makes them somehow completely and utterly aware of when there's someone new and exciting in your life? Or how do they know when you're happy at all? Is there some kind of inexplicable ESP we've developed with them during the time we were with them? And most curious of all, do guys suffer from this as well?


My dear friend Isabelle and I were discussing a fantastic first date she went on last night; he's cute, charming, cool, and most importantly she really likes him. And then the bomb went off. On her ride home she got a phone call from an unknown number and picked it up assuming it was her new boy. Instead, her most serious of all exes, let's call him "Douche Bag", or DB for short (he was nothing short of one the ENTIRE relationship), is on the other line. She can't figure out how every single time she's been on an emotional high he has managed to know and contacts her!

Allow me to present another case to you. The fabulous, Ophelia, has had one of the most turbulent past relationships I've ever known. Back when we were college roommates, she and Paul quickly fell in love. And although they fought like crazy people, they were so crazy and passionately in love, that they saw past it. Two years and countless fights, storming out of parties, bottles of wine and Xanax cocktails later, they ended. She moved to Paris and began dating other guys, yet every single time she was feeling butterflies he would somehow know and email her, until they eventually got back together, despite being continents apart. Once back in NYC, they continued their relationship only to see it end again. Now, two years later she has a new beau that she's in love with and still somehow seems to hear from him every so often.

And then there's me. Things are really going well for me! The job is shaping up in a pretty decent way, I'm moving out of my parent’s house and after a 4 month dating leave of absence I'm dating again and actually kind of digging someone! Yet somehow I have heard from all 3 of my serious ex-boyfriends in the past week. All fucking 3! There's the long term, serious, college boyfriend who I've recently had drinks with and finally found some peace with (my equivalent of Ophelia's Paul), as well as the year long on-and-off, now 30, ex-boss bf, who decided it was time to invite me to a party. However, I think my favorite of them all, is the most recent, and most difficult to get over, Pretentious Pete (creative huh?), who contacted me because of my exposure to his favorite celebrity chef.

So tell me, what the hell is going on here?!? How is it that they know? And most of all, WHY? We've seen it with Mr. Big and Carrie, but they ultimately end up with each other. But I'm not a backtracker! I wouldn't go back to high school or college, and I most definitely only look forward to meeting my future boys. So here's my proposal, when you're "____'s happy radar" starts to go, leave them alone. Let them be. Turn your radar off and keep walkin'!

I hear you callin' Uncle and I'm payin' my tax.

Due to my impending move, and my 3 years of home-with-the-parents living without saving a penny, I did my taxes early this year. I realize this kind of makes me a freak, but the only joy I get from paying off my student loans all year long is knowing that it helps me get a significant amount of money (really only by my standards, others would probably scoff at my refund) back come tax time. Like any young manhattan woman, when I check my bank account and find a LARGE sum of money I immediately want to blow it. And I mean all of it. After all, I'm over the winter weather and tights, and highly looking forward to the pastels, florals, khakis and bare legs of spring.

This, my dearest, does put me in quite the predicament. With the approaching "first month + security" I have coming up I must make sure I'll have enough! Because of this, I have put together my list of spring/tax rebate must haves (so far).

-Calvin Klein Collection "Remi" Leather Oxfords 
Aren't these puppies polished? So great with rolled khakis and a lace blouse or wonderful with a suit and silk top.

-Helmut Lang Skinny Leather Pants
Wow. They're Angelina and Rolling Stones in one. I would love to slip these on.

-Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour
I'm a big fan of doing black when everyone else is doing pastels. 


-Free People Desert Storm Cargo Jacket
I've always been one for army details. Taking something rugged and manly and finding a way to fem it up makes the entire look unexpectedly pretty.


-One-shoulder dress
A cheapy Victoria's Secret dress for under a $100, but I think it's the ultimate party dress! Shows up my favorite feature ("she's got legs and she knows how to use them") and stays a bit covered on top, all while being tight and having rouching around my pooch area!


-My Pants Cargo Pant
I'm bringing up the army details again, but these pants rolled to the ankle with a pair of pink heels and some pearls would be beautiful! Not to underestimate the power of these with some chucks and a vintage tee.


-Dolce Vita "Manny" High Heel Mules
Ok, ok. I already bought these... but you can see why! They will go with EVERYTHING. Metallic? Check. Can wear bare legged, with cute dress socks or with tights? Check. Check. 


-CC Skye Meckenzie Knuckle Ring
BAD. ASS.


-Chanel Classic quilted bag
Last but not least, the dream. The bag that will go with absolutely everything and class up the grungiest of ensembles. Unfortunately, my rebate-spree wouldn't even cover half of this beauty. Fret not, I have every intention of getting this for myself with my first ginormous paycheck. 


Of course, I'm not going to get all of this stuff (bye-bye Chanel and Helmut), after all I do need to save for apartment things. Plus my Jewieness would never allow such a splurge. So I'll shop around. Potentially find a cheaper, but just as rad version of this and that, and will move into my new estrogen dominated bedroom with some lovely Spring clothing updates.

On the 13th day of 2010 my true love said to me, "START BLOGGING BITCH"

We're only 13 days into 2012 and I have decided to make this blog a consistent thing. Like any good relationship, both parties should stay in constant contact in order to truly nurture the bond that they have agreed to venture into. The problem with continuous communication is that sometimes there's just not much to say. Maybe nothing happened today, or maybe you're tired of telling the same ol' stories about your same ol' crappy boss. Either way, I'll share new and exciting things, as often as they occur.

In keeping with New Year resolution #3 (become an emotionally responsible being) I am moving out of mom and pops place. That's right; I will lay my head at night in my very own apartment. One catch, I will be living with 2 guys. Everything about that is exciting to me; no "she didn't wash the dishes, she's such a whore" conversations, or "you should really tell me if you're going to have friends over" crap. Instead it'll be me and guys, shooting the shit, watching crappy TV, having barely meaningful conversations while drinking cheap beer. I think I'll love every second of it. Except... leather couches, posters of girls with HUGE boobs, a Mark Teixeira bar and bare walls.

THIS is Mark Teixeira, ladies. I had no idea who he was either.

Yep... this is Chandler and Joey's apartment. But my living room isn't far off.

Now, I realize I can't complain, nor can I change anything. In fact it's not even that huge of a deal, but it's what I will live with for at least the next year of my life. BUT, I still have my bedroom.  A large room that I get to call my own, and do whatever I want to. So, what to do? Pink and more pink all over? Frills and bows and lace? Posters of gowns and pumps? This is what I have been racking my brain over. And I think this will be what a majority of my posts will be about until I move in on March 1st.

Be prepared for a lot of pink and flowers and puppy-dog smiles.

xo, Ash