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?!

New Job Rules

Well, I started a new job yesterday and so far it seems swell (hello casual Fridays, how I have missed you). Nonetheless, here are some aspects of working in this town that have me a wee bit off-kilter:

• Driving to get lunch
• Driving to and from work
• The heat! The car, he doesn't do so well in the heat. It's a Subaru Outback, which as we all know is made for the Vermont climate.
  

Ok, there's one good thing about driving to and from work -- shoes! I can occasionally wear heels to work and it's not the end of my feet. Sweet!

I've been doing an informal poll of people I meet who are transplants. "How long did it take you to adjust to South Carolina?" Thus far I've heard one year from three different people.

Oops I Did It Again

Today I investigated Five Points for an hour by foot. Armed with a sweet tea from The Gourmet Shop I strolled around and was able to hit a few places. Here's the Five Points website which I am happy to report has been redone since I last checked it about a month ago.

Oops! is a store that sells catalog clothing at a discount. A couple of years ago I got a great Citizens of Humanity jean jacket there which is still very much in the rotation. Today I got a couple of the long sleeved slim fit tees from JCrew for $9.99 each which are magical, as well as a Gap tank for $7.99. I know many of you New Yorkers were wondering how I'd get my fix, well this place is the answer!

There are also a couple of used/vintage clothing shops in the area which are neat, though nothing today worked out for me -- Revente and Sid and Nancy.

Finally, the used bookstore Dr. Books is totally charming. I got a book of short stories, Best of the South, (hello, gotta get into it!) as well as The Life of Pi which I have been meaning to read.


Oh, I had also wanted to check out the used outdoor gear store for a possible gift for my husband, but it's closed on Monday's so I'll probably pop over there tomorrow. That statement is a test to see if he ever reads this!

And speaking of ever reading this, I've noticed that my weekly visits have gone down since I moved to Columbia. Folks, I'm still here. Even though the lifestyle has and will likely continue to change, I'm still the same old Caroline so keep reading and I will keep blogging. Promise.

Short Shorts and Furniture Shopping

Short shorts - that's what's popular here in the SC. At first I was horrified; only a few skinny minis can pull this look off, yet everyone from age 10 to age 35 is wearing shorty shorts here. Well, since I've officially been through my week-long 90+ degree weather I am a little more forgiving of the trend. Hello - it's hot!

So the new obsession is furniture shopping. Accent tables, wall sconces - this is now my vocab, people. I've been to just about every furniture store in town at least once trying to absorb the difference in look, price, etc. Most stores here are what is called "traditional" when what I prefer is called "contemporary;" still, I trudge on, carrying my notebook in hand and scribbling notes about length, width, height and price. So far, our (yes, our - my husband is full on into this furniture shopping too. If you have a mate totally disinterested in the decor of your interior, consider yourself lucky) favorite store is Strobler because you can totally customize a couch - legs, upholstery, accent pillows - for the same price as buying it off the floor. Wednesday is 20% off everything in the store so I am impatiently counting the days until I can go back. Whit Ash has some seriously aggressive sales people, but I still kind of like a bookshelf and a coffee table/end table set over there too.

It all kind of gives me agita after a while as there are really endless possible combinations of end tables, rugs, lamps and chairs. Still, I am enjoying strolling into a furniture shop during the business day, meeting a friend for lunch and then blogging about it all in the late afternoon. Very lady of leisure of me, n'est ce pas? Don't worry, it won't last too long.

First Report From Down South

Friends! I am here in South Carolina and I promise I haven't forgotten about you. It's been tough getting internet access as we are not yet connected in the apartment. In order to report back from the fields I must seek out free wi-fi, which I have done here at Panera Bread.

On the shopping front: after I am done here at PB I will be making my third trip to Target in four days. Thank goodness for this megastore! Hangers, Runners, Clorox, the Patrick Robinson shirts that weren't available in NYC in my size -- I've gotten it all. I had been worried that with Target as the only extremely convenient and inexpensive store in the area, every woman would be sporting Target gear. Well, sure enough the worry was confirmed on day two of being here. At the first place my husband and I went for breakfast - The Gourmet Shop - the woman behind the register commented on my Tshirt (from Target) and mentioned she had the same one. Oh sigh, looks like I'm going to have to pull the "only available in NY" pieces out of their boxes to maintain a unique look. Should I say boxes? Nay, I've unpacked most everything and put it into my...(drumroll please)....walk-in closet! That's right, that's just one of the perks of our new apartment.

Besides Target I have been adjusting to the pace (much slower), the climate (much hotter - 90 today) and the culture (I was talking on my cellphone earlier and everyone was looking at me; realized I was shouting).

People are nice - service people and younger folks call me "Ma'am," the atmo is laid back and the "suburbs" are filled with huge old Magnolia and other beautiful trees. There are tons of squirrels, so Monkey has a field day every time we go for a walk.

I'll check in with y'all later, for now I'm going to finish my sweet tea.

Sample Sales This Week

You should check these out:

Tibi and Hollywould - May 16-18 at 336 West 37th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues on the 15th floor

Delman Shoes - I believe this is also between May 16-18 at the Metropolitan Pavilion (enter on 19th Street)

Victoria Keen - I love this funky designer! Sale is from May 17-31 in her store on Lafayette between Bleecker and Bond Streets.

Super Size Me

I love this too much not to share it. Remember my posting about Forever 21? It's probably the only thing I've written thus far that's stirred up some controversy. Well check out the latest from the NYTimes > "Faster Fashion, Cheaper Chic."

Button Button, Who's Got the Button?

We all do, apparently. Buttons are hot right now. Remember how Reminisence, Canal Jean Co., Unique and Antique Boutique used to give away buttons and we in turn used to collect them and pin them on the straps of our book bags?

That was the 80s and as we all know, the 80s are back, baby. Tonight I had the pleasure of attending the opening night of FRESH CROP - the exhibit of final projects of the SVA graduates of the MFA Design Department. I will blog more about the hands-down coolest concept there, but tonight I just need to share the trend spotted: the button.

A couple of graduates had made buttons part of the giveaways presented in their exhibit. Additionally, there were two buttons created to represent the exhibit itself.

Interestingly, two weeks ago at work we launched a new employee newsletter and we produced a button to go along with the inaugural issue.

I guess the trend will officially be big when the likes of Starbucks and GAP/Banana/Old Navy pick it up (consider that one on the house, big brands).

Internet Museum

Just as I have been able to put my shopping addiction to good use creatively (um, hello, this blog), my friend and former manager has - among MANY other things - been able to put the inordinate amount of Internet industry swag to good creative use. I introduce you to The Internet Museum.

Class is in Session

Knowing that I'm leaving New York soon, I've reverted back to my old self circa 2005. Picture me single, with Monkey the dawg, living in the 10th Street apartment, late nights, late mornings, dog run, cawfee, bla!

All that glamour aside, I've also become someone worse than a tourist in the way I am analyzing and scruitinizing New York. I'm a hyper-absorber/observer because at this point anything I do could be the last time I do it, so it's got to be done to the fullest.

Lesson One: New York, last weekend in April 2007

• Marie Belle in SoHo serves a chocolate and lavender butter sammich that is divine
  
• Jewelry, jewelry, jewelry!
• Todd's 9th Street Market is an East Village institution
• Some people are intentionally obtuse (ML)
• There's nothing like your college friends
• There's nothing like the East Village crew
  
• Anthropologie may support anti-abortion groups, but it has a lot of great clothes
• MUD is the strongest coffee in Manhattan so take that, Starbucks!
• Holy Basil is another East Village institution - apparently we'll still wait an hour to be seated there
  
• The only way to stay out at night until 4 am and then function the next morning is to eat something before going to bed (I recommend pizza or soy sauce/ginger fried chicken drumsticks)
• Only 25 year-olds can really get away with the above mentioned formula
  
• Handbags with serious hardware are heavy even when completely empty
• Bloomingdale's SoHo has great public bathrooms (the best are in the basement in the men's department)
• Graffiti can be art
  

Straight Off the Streets

Well, Girlshop is closing so I'm going to have to come up with a new list of quality online shopping locales. But today was an unusually warm Spring day so phooey on the internet - let's take a trip outside and see what's in store for Summer fashion, shall we?

Of note:

• Mini dress are everywhere
• Flats, flats and more flats
• The Spring jacket is the short sleeved, empire waisted, big-buttoned number
• Skinny jeans (please only wear these if you have the appropriate rear end)
• Biggie big sunglasses

Yawn! I'm no editor at Vogue but truth be told, I am bored. The only style that is catching my eye is being worn by the super-Urban. And yes people, it's reminiscent of the 80s Hip Hop styles so I am loving it something fierce. The look is this - for men and women:

• Relatively slimming jeans, but not necessarily skinny
• Classic hightop kicks
• A crisp, well-fitted solid color Tshirt
• A kaffiyeh scarf around the neck (check out this 1988 article from Time Magazine - is this article really that old? I guess so; seems the pub's archives are free)
• If you're a man, a new baseball hat, brim off to the side

I Reminisce For A Spell

Things I'll Miss about NYC

• That band that plays in the 14th Street Union Square subway station in the evenings
• Prune
• Ciao for Now

Things I Won't Miss about NYC

• Shuffling off the subway while everyone moves at a sheep/cow herd pace
  
• Cellphone culture
• Rude kids
  

Flip Flops

Yesterday I purchased Teva flip flops because we're going to a wedding in Atlanta this weekend and I think I left my stash of flips at my Dad's place in FL.

Hello?! Teva flips? Am I ready for South Carolina or what?! Are Duck Head pants still around? I'm living out a dream, people.