Playing with Flickr

Mainly for business reasons, but also because I might as well finally motivate, I am playing with Flickr to become more familiar with its features.

You are therefore welcome to view the trip I took with my cutie husband (sorry, please allow me that one "schmoopie comment") to Costa Rica this summer.

Costa Rica 2007

Calling All Computer/PDA Gadget-Heads

For those of you who don't know, I have recently decided to become a consultant. It's a very interesting process for someone who has only been working full-time jobs all of my life since graduating college, and it brings into question some major purchase decisions. I am realizing I now need a printer (unnecessary before when I had access to "the office" machine), a PDA (unnecessary before when the full-time employer issued me the Treo or Blackberry) and probably a new laptop.

The problem is that I am not a gadget-head. I was dying for an iPhone before they came out, then all those articles were written about how they're not necessarily the best option for business people (no encryption, etc). I see a Best Buy advertisement in the Sunday circular for a printer and I convince myself almost instantly that's probably the best way to go.

Now I know I could do a review on CNET, but maybe you, kind reader, could help me out with some tips. What are the best options for laptop, printer and PDA for someone who will have to produce a lot of basic Microsoft Office documents (Word, XLS), will probably have to purchase Dream Weaver and manipulate HTML, and will probably also have to download a handful (and by the way, my definition of "handful" is five) of other programs and applications in order to support various clients?

Gadget- and Tech-heads: Please post your comments below!

Ciao for Now

Yesterday I was sitting out on our deck emailing and chatting with friends online. It was the perfect day to just sit outside and sip cawfee all morning and let me tell you, it got me missing Ciao for Now big time!

Dear readers who live in or near Manhattan, please get yourselves over to 12th Street between Avenues A and B and visit Ciao for Now (aka, "The Ciao"). What a wonderful place to spend an hour or two reading a book or the paper, talking with Kevin about bikes or skateboards and visiting with the people in your neighborhood.

Here's Kevin and Amy - the owners of the Ciao - with their youngest, Atlas:



How can you resist? Get over there now, order an iced coffee, a grilled mozzarella sammich and finish it off with a chocolate cupcake with vanilla icing (a sample of the ones we served at our wedding)! You can thank me later.

What's Her Secret? It's All the Same Bra! (aka, Bras: You Buy Them, I Blog about Them)

Dear Caroline,

You're not much of a bra shopper I don't think, but I went into Victoria's Secret for the first time in a few years and they are literally selling ONE KIND OF BRA. It is a padded pushup bra, in about 40 different colors and THAT IS IT! I am not exaggerating. Caroline, please discuss and, if possible, explain.

- Pondering the Pushup

Dear Pondering,

You're correct when you note that I am not much of a bra shopper. Furthermore, I do not own one single under-wire bra because there's not a need. But I feel for my buxom betties and can share the following story with you.

Way back when I started wearing a bra, Victoria's Secret was truly the be-all, end-all of bra shopping. I remember a bright pink lace push-up/demi-cup number I ordered from the catalog that I proudly wore until the elastic was stretched way thin. That was when they still sold bras in A cup sizes. Fast forward to around freshman or junior year in college and I was in the store, trying on bras and convincing myself I could find one that worked for me. I finally settled on a purple satinesque under-wire job. But apparently I hadn't really looked closely at the size because once I brought that number home and ripped off all the tags, I realized I had purchased a C cup size.

Had I convinced myself it was the right size? Were there trick mirrors in the store that made me think I was a size C? Was the sizing all kinds of wrong to convince young women they are "sexy" because their knockers are bigger than they really are? Needless to say I was ashamed and pissed!

That was the last purchase I made at VS until last year when I visited EK in DC. We were strolling around the Georgetown area and she mentioned she needed some bras. So I traipsed in there with her just to be totally horrified by the merchandise. Everything is scantily constructed, there are a bunch of potions and lotions everywhere and it's all aimed at what I guess to be a 12 to 23 year-old age range.

The moral of this story? We are not the target audience of VS, my dear Pondering. I mean, have you seen those nutty "fashion shows" of theirs with the models and the wings? What the?!

Maybe all VS bras are the same, I can't say for sure, but I can tell you the cotton underwear still does me right (I bought some that day in DC). Still, my true love for all things underneath is Calvin Klein. Finally, my well-stacked sisters tell me the Elle Macpherson bra is where it's at.

South Carolina State Fair

Like a fool I forgot my camera, but last night I went to the SC state fair with MB and AB!

Things I ate (listed in order of consumption): Elephant Ear (fried dough) with powdered sugar and cinnamon, Corn Dog with mustard, Fried's French Fries with vinegar.

Rides I rode (also listed in order): Pharaoh's Fury, Zipper, Slingshot, Fireball, Bumper Cars.

We also checked out the amateur and professional art, the small stock animals and birds and the exotic animals, the giant sand sculpture and the prized flowers.

A good time was had by all!

Go Cocks!

No, I'm not using my blog to advocate the male appendage. My friends, I am now a college football fan. More specifically, a University of South Carolina GAMECOCKS fan. Yes, that is the mascot and yes, there is a ton of play-on-word paraphernalia one can purchase and no, I haven't gotten any of it yet.

I did, however, buy myself a nice little garnet-colored tshirt with a subtle palmetto tree (state tree, hullo!) in the corner accompanied by the initials USC. I know I didn't attend USC as a student, BUT my husband did for both undergrad and grad school and this is my hometown now so look out Friday Night Lights!

Last week I had the amazing pleasure of attending the USC vs. Kentucky game. I was graciously hosted by JR and PB who are master game-goers and tailgaters. I ate and drank myself silly and it was the most fun I've had in a looong time.






Here's the gang tailgating before the game (it was pouring rain at that point).








And here's me and JR enjoying ourselves wholeheartedly with the guy who has seats behind hers mugging it up behind us.




Finally, the pinnacle of the evening - we beat Kentucky big time and here's the scoreboard setting off fireworks (yes, I did say "we").

College football - who knew?!

KnowLabel

Ok, I am freaking out about this website. Check out the prices of the tops! Check out the prices of the outerwear!

This website was just featured in the "Best Bets" email from New York Magazine which (shocker) featured possibly the most expensive piece for sale on the entire website. Yes, it's a nice necklace, but you can buy a full outfit for the same price on this site.

Go there now: KnowLabel!

Fall/Winter Coat 2007 Review

This past week I had two people email me about coats so I figured tis the season to blog about outerwear!

Nordstrom.com seems to be the hook up online with the Coat Shop. Question is, what's a girl to do in order to keep up with the trends without dipping into her children's college fund? Here are some affordable alternatives. These are all $200 or less.

Calvin Klein Peacoat














Nine West Wool Melton Blend














And this is my personal favorite - Guess Sculpted Coat. Look at those sleeves! Genius.














Button, button, who's got the button?

KH introduced me to the Soia & Kyo line in her investigations for a new coat. Look at all these button-riffic coats! Equally as important, look at the brand's trippy website. This red number with the exaggerated collar has my vote for KH . How funky fresh can you get?

Facebook

By the way, if you're wondering why I've written a few posts in one night it's because I just spent about two hours on Facebook and I figured I shouldn't "waste" the entire experience online peering at the photos and profiles of my newly-added friends.

Summary: Facebook is neat, but not as cool as LinkedIn.

How B'Zar

Well KH and I are unfortunately back to our separate ends of the earth after a weekend to remember! We laughed, we cried, it was better than Cats. Oh, and we also got our shop on big time.

On Friday it was off to Charleston where the shopping experience left me so relieved. Apparently I have only to get in my car and drive two hours when I need my fix. Phewf! Big relief.

So King Street/Upper King Street is where it's at. Highlights include Miostile where I got a sicko pair of kelly green jeans and Hampden Clothing where KH got a grey cashmere sweater that is truly a piece of art.

But the best by far was B'Zar. Perhaps I have a newfound fondness for this place because it's owned by a couple from New York? Or maybe it's the fact that the husband played the Shoes video while we were shopping around (hello, inspiration)? It could also be because their dog Roxy holds court in her bed tucked next to the register.

Then again, it could just be that nearly each and every piece of jewelry and clothing for sale was rad to the max. 541 King Street -- get over there the next time you're in town.

Free Car Wash?

Two weekends ago I was in my car and on the road to Target. It was one of those Sundays - I needed just a few hours alone. So I pick up a latte at Earth Fare and just one block away I spy young people holding up "car wash" signs. I figure this is a blessing (no pun intended, but read on to understand why) in disguise because Ruby had been in serious need of a bird poop removal.

So I pull into the parking lot of a church and immediately a group of kids, supervised by one adult, get cracking on the car. They are all wearing the same youth group tshirt, so I figure the car wash is a fund raiser for the group. Great.

Only I quickly find out, after being approached by a girl who was at least 15 years my junior, that actually the purpose of the car wash seems to be to recruit people to a church. No payment necessary, just a series of questions on who I am, where I'm from, what I do, and what church I attend. Yipes.

I gave a $5.00 donation to the charity being promoted off to the side of the car wash, hopped back into the car with suds still remaining, and off to Target I went. I guess this is what it means to be living in the bible belt. Some say I'm losing my NY edge - that I should have seen it coming. To you my dears, I say touche.

Um, I Personally Think That US Americans Love Britney Betch

O M G

I am nearly speechless, my friends. It's been quite a month, wouldn't you say? First Little Miss South Carolina negates all my points I've been working very hard to make about my sweet new home state, then Britney fights with a Jello mold for the "Most Exciting" award at the VMAs...ay dios mio! Well needless to say I really haven't known what to say. Shopping hasn't been a top priority for me this past month and I guess that's why our society is falling into the crapper. Don't worry, America, I'll save you! I was introduced to Village at Sandhill today.

And it's not like I've wiped shopping out of my life entirely, my peeps. Last week ME, AB and I went to Marshall's during our lunch break to buy ME a new purse. People - she hasn't gotten a new handbag since, well, I don't know when but let me paint this little picture for you - she unearthed this over-the-shoulder-and-across-the-body number the other day that was carrying photos of her twins as wee littles. They're 17 now. Granted, this was a big improvement from the money clip she was calling a wallet, but the bag was Hush Puppies. Hul-lo.

So off we go to Marshall's and it was like a kid in a candy store. Everything shiny and sparkley was catching her eye (remember when we were like that? aw...cute, right?). Well Missy Thing picked out two sweet little numbers - AB and I might joke that we made the decision, but she had the eye and made the final call. And even though we advised her that a black bag would suffice, she purchased a black and a brown ("Hello, to match the different shoes") and they are way cute. ~Sigh~My work there was done.

Bloggers Who Are Rad

There are times when the internet gets me so excited I can hardly think straight. Today I have been the lucky recipient of this emotion not once, but twice, in one day. This on top of many other revelations today; shoowee!

The first internet revelation was earlier in the day when I got a message from LinkedIn. For those of you who don't know about this amazing resource, check it out -- it's like Friendster but for business networking.

LinkedIn

Weird that I should reference Friendster, right? At this point I should probably be saying, "it's like MySpace but for business networking." The point is, it's less functional like Friendster, but more effective for your ultimate goal, like MySpace. Then again, maybe it's more effective like an online dating site? Well, I could get caught up in this one all night.

So back to the first time today when I was reminded of why I love the interweb. Right before we moved to SC, I was connected via email to a woman who was looking for places to stay before she officially moved back to California. EJ and I were going to a wedding and needed someone to stay in our apt. and take care of Monkey for a long weekend. Enter this wonderful woman who is nice, open and honest. We briefly shared our stories and wished each other well in our big moves. Since then, we have respectively moved and might I say she is flourishing in her new environs. The connection with LinkedIn is that she recently found me on LinkedIn, we linked in to each other, and I was introduced to her wonderful blog.

People, check this out. First of all, it's called Love Yourself. Secondly, the writing is real and the photography is even more real. I have yet to mention that she's a photographer. Isn't the surfer woman idea excellent?

Tonight I log into blogger.com and see that I have numerous comments from a Viginia Belle. How exciting to find a compadre. I am currently reading a collection of short stories called "Read This and Tell Me What It Says." I was so intrigued by the title, I bought the book. To you, my kind reader, I say, "read this blog and tell me what it says."

Two Car Family

We are now officially a two car, one dog family. We shopped for both of these babies online. Used, my friends, used, but thus far they are treating us fairly well.

Here's my Subarau, Mackenzie (aka Ruby). She likes to shake, rattle and roll.











And here's EJ's truck - it's a stick shift! That's him and JA doing some after-purchase kicking of the tires.











We're very quickly realizing the vehicle, much like the house (yes, we are starting the house hunting process), is a statement you choose to make about who you are. What am I saying to the public? Subaruby Vermont type? Pick-up truck hardcore? It's all too much really.

Meanwhile, here's Monkey in the back of the Subie wondering what other dogs are thinking about her.

Jiffy Lube

Today the air conditioning buggered out in our office at around 3 pm, but I stuck around until 5 pm (me = new kid).

It's 102 degrees F today.

On my way home I decided to get my car's oil changed because Jiffy Lube has a special - $8.00 off for Ladies on Wednesday. Yes, I capitalized the word "ladies."

Did I mention it's 102 degrees F today?

Culture Shock

Culture shock - now here's a term that has made its way into the regular rotation of words, not clothes, that I am using these days. I thought it might be a good time to explain exactly what the shock has been, and how it might be different from what most of you New Yawkuhs expected.

The pace of life is different in SC. It's slower than in NY, yes, but it doesn't mean it's dumber. There are plenty of Republicans but I see just as many W crossed out bumper stickers as I see "Bush 04" and Mitt Romney stickers. And speaking of bumper stickers, they are extremely popular here in Cola. A good Columbian will have the standard Palmetto tree and crescent moon image, the USC/Clemson window sticker, and if you're a woman, a monogram sticker as well.

The lifestyle is different. As I've told many of you already, I've gone running more in the past three months than in the past three years. I've also been doing some swimming and it looks like I might be joining a couple of book clubs soon. Still, we've hung on to a few traditions like Sunday brunch (actually, we usually do Saturday brunch too), and eating out at different restaurants and last night I was out until about 2 am so actually I guess I haven't given up my old lifestyle too much.

What's interesting about culture shock (and I use the term "interesting" in an all-encompassing way, like the way it's used in the workplace as a reaction to an idea/problem/solution) is that it's not a slap in the face. It happens very gradually and is peppered throughout the days and weeks. I glance at a license plate assuming it's New York, but in fact it's Georgia. The blue and red plate isn't Massachusetts, it's Alabama. The man who owns the deli by my office calls all the women who are regulars "Miss Jean" and "Miss Shirley." People look at you rather than past you.

The experience is not as aggressive as the word "shock" implies, but that doesn't make it any less intense.

Discounts in the SC

I did some good, affordable damage this past weekend at Target and Rugged Wearhouse that I simply must share with all you skeptics out there.

Mind you, Rugged Wearhouse is not for the faint of "shopping" heart. I originally learned about this chain of stores from a friendly reader who mentioned she once purchased Paper Denim Cloth jeans here on the cheap. Well sign me up!

The racks are disorganized, the sales people indifferent and stuff is everywhere. I have to admit, even I was a little turned off at first. But after I spotted some Juicy C, Max Studio and the AT Loft on the cheap, I was hooked for a good hour. I ended up with an AT Loft skirt for $14.99, an AT Loft long-sleeved, black-and-white striped boatneck shirt for $9.99 and two Gap or possibly Old Navy tank tops for $2.99 each! Rugged Wearhouse in Columbia is on Forest Drive in the same shopping area as Sam's Club and Hobby Lobby.

Target treated me very right and these I must share with visuals as they are so easy to pull from the website!

Online Summer Sales

Where's a girl to get some good online shopping deals? Well, the women of South Carolina have asked and I shall answer.

Bluefly - I know, I know, I'm always hyping this site and it's always on the pricey side. But this time they are having a sale so I am taking it a step further with recommendations. This Sweet Pea top is tres adorable and seems perfect for summer, as does this BCBGirls white eyelet which is similar to a Calvin Klein shirt I got in MA with KH and I wear all the time. Very spring to summer.







Kennedy & Kate What and who? Have you heard of this site before? Me neither until I Googled one of my favorite brands, Mon Petit Oiseau. Hello! Check out the deal for this light blue tunic top and this stripey skirt. But seriously, is this light blue with butterflies skirt for real? Apparently this is the online shop of a store in Seattle. Fine by me.






JJill I know what you're going to say - this tends to be more for the Eileen Fisher crew. In fact it's owned by Talbots so why don't I just wear a skort and call it a day, right? Wrong. JJill is having a big 'ol sale so there's bound to be something that tickles your fancy. Take for example these Greco-Roman style sandals in champagne. They're only $30! Now these Ankle-strap black sandals are a little more pricey at $80, but they're so unique. Jewelry is the department where JJill seems to really get it (kudos to the jewelry buyer!). I love this open leather bracelet and hey, why not throw in this pearl and leather cord necklace to match?

Ok, I just picked out a full outfit (mixing and matching a few items, but nonetheless all the components of an outfit). Now get shopping!

Shopping with a Bang on 4th of July

There are a couple of things I am determined to accomplish this Summer (both resulting from 4th of July activities) -- standing up on a wakeboard and finding some other excuse to buy fireworks.

Fireworks are legal in South Carolina. This is to say: there are fireworks stores. Where they sell only fireworks. All year 'round. Am I getting through here?

MB and I ended up cruising over to the fireworks store at the end of the day on Wednesday because we realized at the last minute we had nothing to view. The guys really aren't fans of the out and out shows, so whatever Fort Jackson has to offer will have to remain a mystery to me until possibly next year (Fort Jackson is the local army base, it's not some kooky name I've come up with for something relating to my family). So out we go to Jim Casey's Discount Fireworks store.

I'm not really sure how to describe, in words, what this is all about but I shall try. There's a big red and white sign on the door that reads, "NO SMOKING." When you walk in there's a sheriff monitoring traffic (I believe this is for 4th of July only, and not on any given day of business) who makes sure you enter through the enter door and exit through another door. There are two-for-one deals so that two of the options we selected actually morphed into four. But most importantly, there are packages of fireworks selling for $425.

We were shopping next to a mother, father and 3 year-old daughter. In a very motherly tone, the woman asked her child, "do you want to see a bunch of sparkle honey or hear a lot of noise?" The guy behind me on line to pay bought more than $90 in fireworks.

So here is something I purchased yesterday that I just couldn't part with until I shared it with y'all. It's a bang snap chicken.



And best of all - check out the price and the instructions.

Chicken Salad

Chicken salad is a very popular dish here in Cola (um, that's slang for Columbia, btw). Just about every restaurant has a chicken salad plate and/or sandwich on its menu. A croissant is my bread of choice for the sammich option. I've been sampling a bunch and thus far my favorite is at Birds on a Wire. Most people prefer the chicken salad at Gourmet Shop, but I think I prefer Adriana's over Gourmet Shop's.

Yep, it's true - it's a posting about chicken salad. But the reality here is that the weather is hot and chicken salad is a nice cool dish. I always wanted to eat good chicken salad, and here I can. Add in a sweet tea and I am hooked.

Ok well if that riventing report didn't make you want to eat, my colleague's blog, eating in, definitely will. Are those amazing photos of food or what?!