PUFF PUFF COUGH COUGH

I yearn for the days of old Hollywood and 80's boardroom meetings (ya know just clouds of smoke). Or maybe just when smoking was considered a glamorous and prestigious aspect of mundane life... and to light was a sign of dignity and beauty, not cancer and dangerous second-hand smoke. Today I can't walk 3 feet without the feel of penetrating glares aspiring to terminate my cig in my eye. I thought it was bad when the the Starbucks OUTDOOR patio turned to "no smoking," but to make matters worse, most of Europe is turning American on us and "in the name of health for all" banning smoking in public places, like restaurants, etc. When the French start to turn their back on smoking, I feel its time to say "Au revior cigarettes!" Has smoking become a thing of the past? Is it not as great as Carrie Bradshaw fashioned it to be on Sex and the City? Ultimately, is it time to quit smoking? 

Yes... YES... and YESSSSS.... SO the real question is... Can I do it? I'm not saying I'm hardcore addicted, but I do still believe that there is some special feeling one gets when they spark that cig. If there wasn't some sense of Aubrey Hepburn exquisiteness behind every puff, then why do so many damn people want to bum a cig when they are drunk?! (Only answer is - they think its cool) As a New  Year's resolution, I'm going to attempt to kick it - in honor of not want to lose a hand to not being able to smoke anywhere and the climate of the frozen tundra aka Wisconsin! 

Best of luck to anyone/everyone else that has the same resolution and Happy New Year!

America's New Cash Crop

I hope they turn this into a poster... 

see the full 1980s photo shoot and the article at  Time 

Do the D.A.N.C.E.

Exactly 14 days till the new year. You know what they say... "how you spend New Years eve is how you are going to spend the rest of year..." hahaha... that is absolute shit. Last year I spent New Years on a double date with a boyfriend I never really talked to again in 2008. So this year rather than a New Years kiss... I'm looking for a New Years bliss... 

Mind altering "I feel like touching you" crack, hott indie high school boys dancing to the b-e-a-t, glow sticks, Justice, one minute to midnight.... its TTHHEE PPAARRTTYY!

www.congresschicago.com

Amor, Amour, Amore!

In honor of my advice paying off in one case and helping someone understand the dangers of love in another...   

10 things Men neither like nor really understand about what women love: 

1. Chuck Bass

2. Dark Nail Polish

3. Gossiping about real people we only know through TV/online sites/magazines as if we roll with them daily

4. Crying - sometimes it just feels good

5. Really really expensive candles 

6. Emotional shopping 

7. Jeans tucked into boots or uggs

8. Dancing 

9. Being passive aggressive 

10. The MEETING OF THE MINDS! 

The New Accessory is... Black.

So I like fashion and trends almost as much as I like studying at Grainger Library (too many hotties for it not to be my #1 past time activity). Today while I was sitting in the chairs at Grainger eyeing the hott businessmen and searching for the "new" trend... I realized it was... well ME! 

No joke.. This might sound like bad categorizing... but according to just about everything... black people are the new hottest "accessory" for the party. First, I don't really have a problem calling humans accessories. I mean what the hell are children?! 

But I do kind of have a problem with this. I realize we have a black president (elect) but is it really a reason for social circles to "spice" up their membership? Why not before this? Didn't the civil rights movement end like 40 years ago? Back in the late 1960s people should have reached out and opened up their circles, not now because its the new face of America. Just a thought. 

I'm not sure if everyone is just riding the wave or if people are starting to change their views. But over all I still think its WEIRD when PR firms are coming out with lists of the top ten black intellectuals or fashionistas to invite to parties in the "Obama-era." 

I feel like inviting a black president into oval office has turned into a social trend that is now being filtered down into the less prestigious circles. Its like the time Gabrille Chanel introduced the tweed suit that was later filtered down to the racks of BCBG and eventually stores like Banana Republic. 

Is this good? or bad because its people reacting to what they believe other people want? Eh, whatever. It took me just about the time to write this to realize I was over it and I should just embrace being a cheap knock off of the historic Chanel suit. 

Hey, wanna invite me to any great parties? ;-) (kidding)

All I Want For Christmas: A Male Model Boyfriend (sans SDTs)

Dear Santa... 

Forget couture. Forget the diamond tennis bracelet. Forget the candles I'll never use and the weird small things that end up gathering dust. 

Forget every season of every show I ever liked on DVD... its no longer doing its job. 

Undress... add a bow and just deliver!!!!

** In all reality... I just want to know what happened to all the fashionable, sophisticated, cultured, pretty-eyed, single boys in this world... (maybe its just Madison)**

She's Back!

Last night our girl, B Spears had her 27th birthday party, which was also the launch party for her new album, "Circus." 

Although her album leaked on the Internet weeks ago and a few of her songs have already topped America's charts, I spent the better half of my day listening to "Circus" on repeat. I thought it had a good variety of songs and there is some very creative writing involved (ie: Mmm Papi) but overall it was really sad. After having watched part of her "For the Record" on MTV the other night, this album just  amplifies how there are rich executives behind every aspect of her life and that she is really nothing more than just a household brand name abundantly collecting millions for Hollywood (listen to Lucky)... If this was me... I would have went ape shit too.

But for now, let's bow down to the "once pop princess, now queen of pop" cause her comeback is something worthy of our praise. 

Personal Favorite Song on the album: Unusual You 

Photo Cred: Patrick McMullan

Bang for your Buck

With the recession setting in, I went on a hunt for the best gifts I could find for under $50 to add to my Christmas list... Just because our economy sucks, doesn't mean our gifts have to! 

Check out this purse - perfect for going out and only $23.49. 

Photo Cred: ASOS.com

Night With Jessica Catherine

Thursday December 4 From 6-8 at Atticus (18 North Carroll St.) 

Jessica Catherine appeared on the fashion forefront at Milwaukee's fashion week. Her designs are impressive. This is a night in fashion heaven! 

FURezzing

Last night in Madison the snow fell. Walking class to class this morning all I could think about is how I wanted to be prancing around my apartment in this coat with hot coco. 

Photo Cred: The Sartorialist