I keep coming back . . .

To this picture.

More stylish sister is very into trapper hats.

Has several and is often found in them in Colorado.

I was walking to work and ran across this woman.

Had to snap a quick pic and shoot it off to her.

But outside of that I keep thinking about this picture.

Love her.  Love her stance and body language.

The hat, the useless umbrella, the streets slick with rain -

The two just seem so stylish.

Feels very NYC, n'est-ce pas?

WHERE to do I get these

MINT CHOCO COVERED OREO'S!!!!!

Shazam, that's insane I need them RIGHT NOW! Screw the Cabo diet, I need mint, and chocolate, and oreo's and probably milk too.

Busy Busy Busy

It's one of those weeks yo!!! Don't know how, where or why, but I am busy busy busy in a good way. Tons of fun plans, tons of things to celebrate. Two Birthdays, one baby to shower, and old friends to reunite with.

What a difference . . .

A week makes.

Is it just me or do you love the fashions from the SAG awards better than the golden globes?

I certainly do.

Here's why:

Carefree and unique.

Much better than the standard silk drapey dress.

The next one is almost not fair.

Old and stuffy (Get it?!?!?) or young and sexy?

Can't even hold a candle.

 

I really like the purple dress (minus the iridescent effect on the fabric).

But if you can look this sleek and lean - rock out with your socks out.

 

Am I the only one to love short dresses at formal events?

Couldn't have loved this one more - although the gold number is so fantastic.

I definitely have to give it to the globes dress.

I felt a little bad for her above.

But don't worry - she worked it all out.

Again - like the dress and her having a cinderella moment.

But this is soooo much better.

Some others didn't fare as well (drew, I'm talking to you) but I won't concentrate on that.

Bravo ladies - keep up the good work.

You've inspired us all.

These were just a few other favorites.

 

Never underestimate the power of a great black dress.

Clearly I'm drawn to the strapless numbers.

 

 

I might be the only one with the next one.

But I liked it - even the headband.

 

 

It's just emotionally draining

Being at work. I know that's not what you would expect. Normally it's is physically, or intellectually draining. But no that is not the case where I work. The woman who is supposed to work under me, doesn't speak to me. Why you ask....because I expect her to do her job. When I point out something that hasn't been done, or something that needs to be fixed she completely ignores me. I believe that it is because she doesn't know how to actually do her job. Nor does she want to learn. The person I replaced obviously thought it was easier to fix things, or do things for this woman. I don't think it is easier to do someone else's job as well as my own. Nor do I think it's easier to continuosly correct/anticipate the same mistakes. It is so much easier to explain to someone the right/correct way to do things. If you try to show her something she doesn't pay attention to you. She has hung up the phone on me twice. She doesn't answer when I call her, and when I go into her office she gets on the phone so as not to talk to me.

I would have liked to face this head on months ago, but my boss thought it was easier to intervene and decide she doesn't report to me anymore. Which was just fine by me, he was her headache now. Or so I thought, problem being there are several things that she has to complete first before I can complete certain reports, querries, or analysis. Every so often I do have to interact with her. Things have gotten progressively worse over the last 4 months. First she was just not talking to me unless it had to do with work. Yes you read that right a 40 something mother of 3 was not talking to me because I pointed out to her that she was posting the freight to the wrong account. Now she just doesn't talk to me at all. At this point my boss has gotten into it with her several times for the same issues. I have communicated with him whenever a problem arises, like the fact that for the last month she doesn not talk to me period, or reply to my e-mails. But he keeps passively aggressively saying he's going to do something about it, and then not. So as time goes by the situation has gotten worse. I sent her an e-mail about creating the folders in excel for the new year on Friday, to let her know that she should use these files, and save things in these files(the answer is yes, it is obvious but it would not have occurred to her). Her reply this morning why are you changing things........I didn't change anything, this happened every year. I can see the old folders as proof. I really didn't know how to reply to that. but it spole volumns. This is a woman who DOES not like change. She is also emotionally unstable in my opinion. It's just really hard to deal with someone who won't talk to you because you asked them a question so you can do your job. I literally don't think I have ever gotten an answer anytime I have ever asked her anything. It's emotionally draining.

I don't get it . . .

So I keep seeing these pictures pop up.

I just don't get it.
I don't think this is in anyway beautiful.

Now this is absolutely an extreme.

But why are we giving it so much attention?

Seems to only perpetuate the problem.

Or maybe lessen the drama of it.

Making it seem appropriate or normal.

It's not.

It's crazy.

And although this example is someone who's very young

(which makes it even more inappropriate)

I'm always struck when I run into older women

who no longer have their face but are wearing masks.

Honestly  I am fascinated as well as disgusted.

I can't imagine altering your appearance to the point where 'you' are no longer recognizable.
Because they're not.
I can see it.  That plastic slant your face takes.  Can they not?

I'm very aware of time marching slowly across my face.
I'm sure it will get worse.
But I feel like the  wrinkles and crows feet and freckles and imperfections
testify to the life that I have led. 
 And it's a life of laughter and worry - possibly too much time in the sun.
But as an adult I own this.

And I repent at times.

But never to a plastic surgeon.

 

 I keep thinking of the older women I ran across in Italy.

Beautiful in their wrinkles and folds and lives.

Ultimately, it just makes me very sad.

And worried.

What are we teaching our daughters?

You are NOT going to believe who e-mailed me today.

Remember that bad date I went on where the guy wanted to hang out in his bedroom all night. Then ordered spicy Thai soup that he slurped and made him sweat? Well he e-mailed me through match today!!!! It read:

"Hey been a long time! How's your day going? Have anything fun planned for the weekend?"

I replied:

"Yeah it's been a long time for a reason, I'm not interested. Good luck on match and with your search"

Tizzy laughed, but thought I was being a bit harsh. I am going to have to disagree, that was not harsh. This is a man in his mid 30's who planned a date in his bedroom. NOT OKAY. Not only that but he is such a D-bag he didn't even remember he has my phone number. He e-mailed through match. And he drunk dialed me for 2 weeks after the bad date. None of which I replied to. He obviously doesn't take a hint.

I just think it's funny....

How some things stick in people's minds. I am going out tonight with my friend who recently move back to Chicago. A couple months ago in a conversation I mentioned how my ex, was indian. She did not realize this because they had never met, she wasn't living here while I was with him. Since that conversation she has been on a non-stop mission to set me up with every Indian guy she comes across. Tonight there are two possible indian boyfriend candidates who are going to be meeting us for drinks.

I obviously don't have a problem with dating indians, or any "type" really (unless your consider trekies a "type"). I just think it's funny that she has zoned in on this as my "type". Truth be told Indians do fall into my type. I like Tall, Dark, and Mysterious, like the pretender. Remember that show from the late '90s? No okay then Benecio Del Torro, Javier Bardem, Jacob Dylan are all other good examples.

Does Anyone watch The Biggest Loser?

I only do here and there. But I was watching the last 30 minutes of it lastnight, which included the weigh-ins. Low and Behind a yelling match breaks out between the trainers Jillian and Bob, and one of the contestants on the red team. The trainers accused her of throwing the weigh in. Basically it's week 3 and she only lost 1 lb this week. This apparently was the second week that she only lost 1 lb. To give you an idea the next lowest amount of weight lost was 7lbs, and the highest amount was 14lbs. The trainers contend that she had to eat an extra 7,000 colaries that week, or not been doing all the workouts, to have only lost the 1 lb.

Why would you throw a weigh in you are wondering....me too. Then it hit me this season is couples, so if your couple has the lowest percentage of weight lost, the group votes one, not both of you off. This woman was the smallest of the contestants easily, and she was there with her husband. The trainers logic being, that is she works but not super hard, then come vote off time she will plee to be the one voted off, and it would be an obvious choice since all the other contestants get pissed when they feel someone isn't respecting the process.

Here is my question martyr, supporting spouse, or dumbass. I mean this woman is FAT. You have to be to make it onto that show. Her husband however was clinically obese, but sweety you are more than chubby with your own set of health risks. I understand her wanting him to stay longer because his health risks were much more dier than hers. But lady, you are obese, you have health risks too. Is she just in denial about her weight and health issues. How could she not be taking this opportunity seriously?

Have you ever . . .

wanted to fall into a catalog

and assume the beautiful life depicted there?

I have.

And it's living in Paris with a short,dark bob.

Just the way it is in the new Anthropologie catalog.

(I'll never turn away the Anthro catalogs - too special.)

In case you missed it -

here's what I'm dreaming of today

while looking out my grey, dark window.

I'll wait for you here.

I'm always adorable when stuck in the rain.

Can't wait to see you.

Enchantee.

Just getting home.

(Again always this lovely after a long day.)

We all know how I feel about bikes.

Ahhh, to dream.

Blah blah blah

That's what is going on with me lately. I seem to have the winter blah's. They are by no means extreme, but they are definitely there. I was trying to avoid them, even taking on one of my friends motto's for the new year.

"Not THAT attitude again in 2010"

Alas I am not really sure it is possible to completely avoid the blahs. I had yesterday off and I don't know I feel like I never really got it together. I was sleepy and lathargic all day. Of course this could also just be the after math of not sleeping well for a whole week. Lastnight I was out, deep sleep, but an active one. I must have worked out in my sleep because my back is soar like I spent all night doing push ups.

I was with you yesterday . . .

The funny thing about losing a parent or anyone really is that you constantly find them around you.

And it's bittersweet really. 

The memory and then the reality.

It's been awhile since I ran into my Dad.

But I did last week.

I was at work and there was an older gentleman with his wife.

I walked over to help them and then after they left - he was there.

He smelled just my like Dad.

I don't know what the cologne/aftershave/shaving cream/soap was -

but it was Pappy.

It's happened to me before.

Lots of times.

In an elevator there was a man who blew his nose the same way.

If you had ever heard it.  You would have thought it was pretty inimitable.

I one time shook hands with a man who hands were so similar I didn't want to let go.

Walking around in Soho I came across a motown quartet singing 'My Girl'.

That's what we danced to at my wedding.

In Cape Cod one summer I had the pleasure of drinking with

a gentlemen who used such phrases as,

'Lady friend' and I'm afraid I stretched our conversation way past the point of normalcy.

 (side note - that's how my Dad would introduce people -

"Tizzy, come here it would be your pleasure to meet the propietor so and so"

somehow he always knew the proprietor too.)

My Dad would have loved him. 

At the moment it's always such a happy coincidence.

It's only later that you wish you knew what that cologne/aftershave/shaving cream/soap was.

You might give anything to relive it again.

This is what I would wear if....

I were a boho bride getting married on the beach in Mexico. Reality check.....I am neither boho, nor a bride, nor planning a wedding in Mexico. But it's fun to picture yourself as someone else. Right? It's not just me who does that?

I wish I knew where this came from . . .

But I don't.

Husband sent it as a forward.

I don't even know who sent it to him.

I still think it's pretty damn ingenious.

Happy Weekend.

Hobbies

I need one, bad. I think I am boring right now, one of the reasons being that I really don't have very many hobbies. I mean I workout (lately), I read, and I love Tv, both the good and the bad. The TV hobby is the one that gets me in the most trouble. It is obviously time consuming, and when you talk about the different shows you watch you can see people mentally tallying up all the time you spend on the couch.

I want to take a class on something, get out of my house, shake off the winter blues, meet new people, but I am not sure what. Here is the kicker, I am not artsy, like at all. I am also a bit of a perfectionist so any project/art thing I do I usually spend more time focusing on the part that isn't perfect than enjoying what I just made. Which leads to being pissed that I spent so much time on something that's bad/I hate. It's a vicious cycle really.

Here is my list of potential hobbies so far.
Tennis
Music (not sure which instrument yet)
Yoga or Pilates
Photography

My Mother always dreamed . . .

Renoir - Mother and Children

For the first couple years of our lives

my mother dressed Lish and I as twins.

(See header above)

For some reason she was also obsessed with fur trimmed dresses and muffs.

(you know those weird things you put your hands in?!?)

I saw this painting this weekend and immediately thought of her.

This is totally the look she would have been going for.

I believe that she is still secretly holding out hope that Lish will have a winter wedding.

She dreams this dream because she wants More Stylish Sister and I to be the bridesmaids.

And to be wearing the White Christmas red velvet dresses trimmed in white fur.

(With coordinating muffs, of course.)

I'm certain she would like our neices to be little ballerina flower girls

and for the wedding picture to look something like this.

In that spirit - how fantastic would this be as a look for Lish

as a bride and with her groom?

 

the first dance.

Awesome.

Motivation

I need some today to get my butt to the gym. There are several things working against motivation right now.

1)I got less than 6 hours of sleep lastnight, for no good reason other than I couldn't fall asleep. Sooo sleepy!

2)I finished year end and all the analysis, backup, duplicate copies, entries made, schedules updated, and results justified. The adrenaline I had been going on for the last couple of days because of this deadline is completely gone. Basically it feels the same coming down from a sugar high.

3) The year end stress also had me all tensed up, and hunched over, my shoulder blades and upper back are just now starting to release the tension.

4)The gym was so crowded last week and even over the weekend that the idea of having to wait for a machine makes me want to weep.

5)I'm a little gassy. I know TMI. I accidentally bought Kashi granola bars and seriously farts are just not stopping. It's REALLY embarassing to fart at the gym. I,unfortunately, know from experience.

The only thing the motivation has working in it's favor is my new gym crush. He is delicous, so cute I openly stare at him.

A little pick me up . . .

Is anyone else in a winter funk?

Ugh, this time of year makes me want to crawl back in bed.

Or sit by a fire and sip hot cocoa.

Anything but brave the cold and go to work.

All right, people let's pull it together.

We will make it through this.

Here are some of the things that have kept me going this week.

Isn't this the greatest hat ever?

This would make me laugh no matter how cold.

Get it at Beard Head

I love colored tights.

I don't care if it's grey and dark outside.

I'll put the party on my legs.

Everybody needs a little bling in their life.

If just to get through these next few months.

Love these boots.

How great would the swing on this tassle be as I'm marching through the city?

Really great, I'm sure of it.

 

If I'm not on my way to work, at work or on my way home from work -

I'm wearing the sherpa lined fleece.

Literally - everyday for the past week.

Except when it was in the wash.

Would you believe that I know Maggie (bottom left)

My friend's dog is immortalized on a t-shirt at the limited.

And if I really can't make it out of the house -

A great set of pj's makes staying in -

soooo worth it.

Best Ex Boss Ever

I have had more than several bosses, but I do think I have one of the best ex-bosses ever. He was great to work with (notice I say with and not for) He was fair, calm, funny, authoritative without being an asshole. He really truely wanted everyone to succeed. There were several real emergencies while we worked together but he never seemed panicked or would let you panic. He would never ask someone to do something he would not do himself. There were several times when we worked odd hours(4 am anyone), he was there too. He could have easily pulled the boss card, and left it to the managers and people in that department but he never did.

It has been about 6 years since I worked for him, but I would undoubtedly work for him again in a heartbeat. This weekend stylish older sister was celebrating her sons 9th birthday and taking 13 kids to a Chicago Wolves game. That is where my ex-boss works now. I haven't seen him in 4 years, and really only e-mail very sporadically. I e-mailed him when stylish older sister told me her plans. Ex-boss was so gracious he came and met my sister, and took my nephew down into the tunnel, into the locker rooms, and had him watch part of the game from the announcer booth, which is apparently the best place to see the game. Major Thanks to the ex-boss.

Motto for 2010 . . .

I've been thinking lots about resolutions this week.

As Lish told you - I normally don't do them.

Instead we recount our 5 highs and lows of the previous year.

I love being reminded of what we did and where we were really disappointed.

With such an awful memory - I need the memory jog -

so I don't go making the same mistakes during this bright and shiny new year.

And still my resolutions were never that realistic.

 I was lucky to remember them past the first month -

all right, first week.

I don't think the problem was in the making of resolutions.

It was the type of resolutions I was making.

Make sense?!?

I'm going to try something different this year.

I'm going for much simpler..

And I'm following Lish's example.

I'm not making resolutions - I'm going to live by a motto this year.

With all the hope and possibility that a new year brings -

I resolve to:

TAKE ACTION!!!

That's my motto this year.

I'll keep you posted on how it goes.

Sorry...

I've just been busy. I am an accountant and it's year end. It's my first year at this company, and I am replacing someone who was there for 12 years, yikes, things will for sure fall through the cracks. Plus this is the first year the company is reporting not as a private company, double Yikes! So I am sorry I have not posted, but really do you want to hear about stupid accounting stuff, or office complaints....I think not.

So the one interesting thing I have to report is that I am still on match and I didn't even know it. My account was supposed to end on 12/26. Apparently it auto-renewed. I wasn't really expecting it, or paying attention. I am going to take this as a sign. A sign to remind myself not to hibernate during the winter. So this winter I will try new things, meet new people, and not huddle by my fireplace.

Cutting Back - In a good way . . .

The other day when I got my mail - I was overcome.

Catalogs had totally taken over.

With the new year I have decided to stop this insanity.

It only took a couple minutes but I went through all the websites

and started canceling the catalogs and emails.

If you'd like to as well - the listings below should help.

If I don't have a listing - go to the website.  Get the customer service email address and then send them a simple note with your name and address and ask them to stop sending you stuff.

Links:

CB2

Crate and Barrel

William Sonoma, West Elm, Pottery Barn

Restoration Hardware

Ralph Lauren

Victoria's Secret - Emails Only

Victoria's Secret - Reduce catalogs sent.

Need to call 1-800-411-5116 to get removed.

And one last offender:

An email to the following address and you will be removed from the catalog and email lists.

JCrew - contactus@jcrew.com

Phhhewww,  I'm feeling better all ready.

Not so very merry . . .

Isn't it a little sad when all the holiday decorations come down?

Everything seems so bare -

after all the lights and ornaments.

At work we dismantled all the trees and merriment.

Everything seems empty without it.

I still haven't taken down my holiday decorations.

I know I know.  It's totally time.

And although I wasn't feeling very inspired -

I did dig out our holiday boxes and scatter our ornaments and lights everywhere.

(no tree - sniff sniff)

And let me tell you -

I'm so glad that I did because I found a little gem that I had completely forgotten about.

Are you ready?

It's good -

I promise -

Please say hello to

the christmas shovel!!

Pretty spectacular, right?

I have a VERY generous mother-in-law who also LOVES holiday-themed gifts.

This little star made it our way maybe 2 or 3 years ago.

It's always a surprise when I open the box and see it.

Somehow we lost the handle - which seems apropos.

Puts a smile on my face every time I walk out the door.

My Husband is always wondering about the artist.

I'm just grateful that it's ours.

Speaking of other fantastic holiday items.

We received a box of Christmas gifts yesterday.

Included were the following from some of our nieces and nephews:

Homemade ornaments of Husband, Tizzy and Chloe!!

Surely seems like a Christmas miracle.

How fantastic!!!

I snipped off the ribbons and am going to put mangets on the back.

This is the gift that keeps on giving.

Don't predict the future.....create it!

Love that saying!!!! Love love love it. I need to start doing that.

I think I mentioned a couple blogs ago that going back to school and getting my degree is the first real goal I have ever set for myself and accomplished. I usually am pretty vague and short sighted about goals. Something like I need a new job. Okay well that is actually not all THAT hard to do. But it's getting a good job that I enjoy, and fulfills me is a where I seem to get off mark. I need to start creating my own future. Which also means I need to start setting some goals for myself that are a little more important than lose 10 lbs.