and another thing.

as promised, i read be honest, you're not that into him either.

it was just a'ight for me, dawg.

it's a quick read, especially when you skip the entire section on casual sex like i did. it doesn't offer anything too earth shattering and while it presents a lot of problematic situations with dating guys you're not that into, not a lot of solutions are offered.

one interesting concept i learned though, is about commitmentphobes. we all know/are commitmentphobes so i thought you'd like this:

people who can't commit to 'yes' also have a hard time committing to 'no.'

thus the hanger-ons, the dead end relationships that live on and on with no future, etc. etc. etc. of course the book doesn't tell you how to deal with it, but at least now you know, which is allegedly half the battle.

does this ever happen to you?

you know how some weeks, you have enough clothes to get you through the week but you KNOW that you will need to do your laundry on saturday?

and you think about it all week long?

and then saturday comes and you would rather do ANYTHING but your laundry?

and then it's two in the afternoon and you still haven't done your chores because you've been busy doing a lot of other really important stuff like drinking diet coke out of a luminarc tumbler with heart-shaped ice cubes, doing yoga and then pilates just for kicks, watching your roommate hang up some art in the kitchen, watching split ends while really hoping that millionaire matchmaker or any of the housewives shows will be on next?

just me?

ok.

p.s. congratulations to one of my favorite people ever, kathleen, on getting engaged! i wish you all the best, even if it is true that i probably will not be marrying steve's brother. ;)

deep conversations on friday afternoons, or the one in which i (again) share my excitement for the hills season 5.

hollylynn: the hills season 5 looks good.
coworker: i saw the clip
hollylynn: not impressed?
hollylynn: the teaser gave me chills. i felt like the biggest loser, but not in a good way
coworker: i want to have faith, but i've been hurt once before
hollylynn: that is true. fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice...
coworker: right...and i have so many other options to fill that void in my heart
coworker: so ya know, it's tough to bring down that wall
hollylynn: i understand that
hollylynn: but let me just say: remember what the two of you once had. don't you miss it even a little?
hollylynn: and wouldn't you hate yourself if you didn't do everything in your power to make things right?
hollylynn: if you turn your back now, you're no better than the hills season 4.
hollylynn: think about it.
coworker: i've given as much as a i can
hollylynn: ok, well you know when you've had enough, i guess.
coworker: you should know, though, this is the best relationship metaphor convo i've ever had
hollylynn: thank you
hollylynn: i know that i'm going to give it another shot
coworker: you're great hollylynn. you've saved my friday
hollylynn: all in a day's work.

now you watch:





my coworker may have lost hope, but blog friends, it’s not too late for you. i know that if we visualize an awesome season of the hills, then an awesome season will materialize. think of the long, blinky exchange of stares! think of the clothes! think of the liquid liner and subsequent liquid liner emmy-worthy tears!

who’s with me?

is you is, or is you ain’t, my constituency?? <-- name that movie.

ahem.

y'all need to get your caboose over to iheartyoublog.com for titillating teasers for two of my favorite shows, gossip girl and the hills.

that's all.

I’m in a weird place.

...musically, that is.

Yesterday, I was on a Whitney Houston high. It lasted through today, too. I had kind of forgotten about Whitney until Tatiana del Torro sang “Saving All My Love For You” and didn’t butcher it.

Then I had to hear the real thing.

Then I wanted “I Will Always Love You” and “I Have Nothing.” Those made me a little emotional.

So then I listened to “I Get So Emotional,” natch.

After that, I decided to rev things up and get some “I Wanna Dance With Somebody” in my life.

It was too wild. I had to downshift to “The Greatest Love.” I really hit a solid workflow with that one, probably because it’s a big listen-while-you-work radio song. Sometimes, everything just points back to the beauty of listen-while-you-work radio.

And that's all I have to say on the subject.

wait a second...

so today i was home for lunch watching tyra (i know, i know. judge me. i don't care.) and the topic of the show was "he's just not that into you."

bonus.

my favorite topic!

they had this "man panel" that listened to girls whine about how their boyfriends don't treat them exactly how they wanted to be treated. and the men decided that some of these guys were into the girls, some of them weren't and sometimes they just accused the girl of being dramatic (pretty fairly, in my opinion).

the thing that hit me over the head like frying pan was the realization that most of these girls didn't seem all that into their boyfriends.

interesting!

i get that with the book and the movie and all, this is a big fad. it puts a lot of pressure on guys i guess, but let's be honest - lots of guys have lots of issues. and lots of girls have done their finest *easy* breezy job to create the laziest generation of men our society has ever seen, and the feminist movement sure did it's job to confuse gender roles to the point that no one even knows what their responsibilities are anymore. i get all that.

but i mean ladies: if you're not that into the guy you're dating in the first place, who cares how he treats you? who cares if he only communicates through text or never pays for dinner? if you don't like him, break up with him and save both of you a lot of time and emotional turmoil.

on a similar note, i have that book: be honest, you're not that into him, either. i haven't read it yet...but i'm going to study and get back to you. this conversation isn't over yet.

here you go, mom.

i feel kind of weird doing this, since now that i see the pictures (taken with my incredible 1.3 mega pixel cell phone camera) and my living room actually looks kind of sad.

just promise me you'll visualize the before and after. the before: nothing on the walls, no tables, no rug, couches in horrid plaid in an array of jewel tones, tv on one of those 19.99 bachelor pad build-it-yourself jobs.

the after (keep in mind that i still need some lamps, more accessories, and definitely paint. not that i have the ambition for painting my rented apartment, but maybe i should):

loveseat with my favorite quilt (lucas scott used to have the same one on his bed), brown shag rug that my cute mom gave me, $3 end table i painted.

here's my couch, purple satin blanket i got at tjmaxx ages ago, old windows from emilie jayne, the cutest consignment store in slc, and throw pillows from where else - target. what color would you paint this wall??

chair that belonged to my great grandpa, recovered with a sassy shower curtain, table from d.i. that i painted, canvases i painted with wallpaper i framed in the middle, and some of my old stuff.

and that's what i've done so far. be sure to stay tuned for hollylynn's half-done kitchen/dining area in the coming weeks (unless this post depressed you so greatly that you have officially stopped following this blog).

dear ryan: thanks for giving back.

well, well, well. busy week for former o.c. cast members. i might be late to the party on this one, but benjamin mckenzie, aka ryan atwood, will be in a new show called southland. it's a cop show. ryan's a cop.

congratulations, ryan! i will even try to watch this one, even though i'm not much for law enforcement-themed t.v. shows. perhaps you will put a reno 911 spin on it for my entertainment? no? well ok.

now if mischa barton could just move off the worst-dressed lists and onto some sort of paying gig...

musical snack!

So tonight about 9:30pm, as I was on my way home from the crazy the rave that all the party people and I were moshing at, I decided I had better go to my favorite Wal*mart and grab a few necessary items (I sure grocery shop at big box stores a lot, don't I?).

And when I started my car, I heard this song starting that reminded me of so many awesome, no...good? Well, tolerable (at least!) times I had in high school. That song is "Rhythm Divine" by the one and only Enrique Iglesias. So, I did what any self-respecting teenager of the 90's would do. I turned it up and sang along. I'd now like to give you the same opportunity.

You're totally welcome! I'm sure you would do the same for me, should you hear "Are You That Somebody" or "Tubthumping" while en route to Wal*mart.

summer moving on?

summer, summer, summer. i hope you know that what you’ve done will make seth cohen FLIP OUT.

and where will he run, now that you’re engaged to hayden christiansen? right into the arms of anna stern, whose weave i sincerely hope has evened out since her reappearance at brown during season 3 of the o.c., that’s who. but this time, you won’t have any right to be jealous.

you made a choice, friend. enjoy your yummy hayden treat, because i don’t think cohen is ever getting over this. at least for kirsten’s sake, he sold the summer breeze for snacks so he can’t sail to luke’s again.

(i really need to get over the o.c.)

seth + summer 4ever!

dove dark with almonds = best valentine’s day ever.

dove is definitely the bossiest of all the candies. the valentine’s day ones are especially brazen, imploring me to do all kinds of crazy stuff:

“sleep under the stars”
“cherish the romantic moments in your day”
“get swept away by love”
“laugh until your heart overflows” <--what the h is that supposed to mean?

sleep under the stars? yeah…and catch another cold? no, thanks.

as far as the second two…i’ll do those when i’m good and ready, thankyouverymuch.

and the last one, well, make of that what you will.

i challenge you to find a pushier brand of chocolate. also, good luck finding a tastier one. my grandmother gave me a bag of those dove darks with little toasted almond bits in them, and holy heart failure, batman. they are goo-ood.

you should go get some. i bet they’re on sale by now.

emo teenager meets carrie bradshaw

do you ever get the feeling that you've lost yourself?

it's a strange phenomenon, because so many times, the fact that i'm back is my only indication that i'd ever gone in the first place. usually, i don't lose myself in a big way, and it doesn't always last for long, but even if i'm the only one who knows i'm gone, it still feels so good to come back.

seeing someone i love, tasting something i've been missing, rediscovering a simple joy...these are all things i take for granted and then suddenly, they'll feel familiar yet distant, and i remember why i keep coming back. i hit a groove everything is right with the world again - not that i've noticed that anything had been off.

it begs the question: should we cling to this peace we know and crave, or constantly push ourselves out into new horizons where our footing is unsteady and the path unsure? could it be that we should keep one foot on each side, remaining grounded in the familiar while at the same time reaching to grab hold of new and different things that can enrich our lives?

as i wander through this journey called life, i can't help but wonder: can i really remain true to myself as i struggle to become that woman i want to be when i grow up?

fire! fire! fire!

it seems these days that you can’t open a web page , listen to a newscast or stand in a grocery line without hearing about the fire and brimstone of our super stellar economy.

and i get it, people. it’s bad. i’m stressed, just like you are. for me and most of my generation, the good news and the bad news is that we really didn’t have any money to lose in the first place. so, as long as we keep our jobs, we should come out about even when all’s said and done. combine that with the fact that we’ll be working for another 30 years, and i think we’ll survive just fine. sure, times are lean. that trip to london isn’t looking to promising for me, and for the next few years, i’ll probably be buying about as many cars as i will be listening to chris brown songs.

but can we maybe, just maybe, widen the lens a bit and try to find a silver lining here?

i feel that we’re just being opportunistic, tying everything back to the economy. it’s fear breeding fear. it grows like ripples in a pond and before you know it, our confidence will be so shot to hell that we won’t have the faith to do anything at all…which certainly isn’t good for the economy, now is it?

am i saying that thinking happy thoughts will turn this thing around? no. what i’m saying is, it sure can’t hurt. just as sure as no man (or roommate) has ever been shot while doing dishes, no one has ever been injured by trying to make the best of a sub-par situation. and you can’t deny that perception is worth a lot in our society. remember how amazing you felt about yourself after you saw those photos of celebrities without makeup? if anything, keeping your chin up can only help at this point.

i know that for me, a couple of good things have happened as a result of the recession:
1. i know that i’m not entitled to a job, and i work harder while i’m at work
2. i realize that people are more important than things (wouldn’t suze orman be proud) and have decided to nurture relationships rather that accumulate stuff

3. more than ever, i know that God is in control, and the more i look for his tender mercies , the more i find them.

now it’s time for a game. if you’re still reading, first of all, wow. your attention span is awesome. secondly, try to come up with something positive you’ve seen since the recession set in and leave it in the comments section.

we’ll be like our own little stash of happy.

this week rocks.

can i be happy for a sec? i’d like to walk you through the top 6 reasons why this week has made me feel like i’m on a triple dose of happy pills.

1. when i got in my car to go to work this morning, one of my favorite songs was playing.
2. my living room will be complete after i buy lamps!
3. i spent the weekend in my favorite city with my favorite people, including my adorable cousins.

in related news: here’s a joke that will make you the life of the party:
q: why was the math book so sad?
a: because it had too many problems.

4. i didn’t have to work yesterday and the weather was absolutely perfect.
5. i came to work after a glorious long weekend to realize (thanks to a reminder from j in cali) that american idol is already upon us.
6. this morning i entered a twitter showdown to win a free lunch at my fave little lunch place, gurus. after much visualization of the bleu steak wrap, i won.

hope you’re all having a fab week as well.

more about diet coke, or the one in which i credit the recession with improving my health.

remember the other day when i only had one diet coke?

well, yesterday i was at my fave retail establishment of all time, target, picking up a few grocery items. moving from the produce section to the aisle with the bread and the pickled things (i know, what a strange combo for an aisle), i noticed an end cap featuring a sale on diet coke. and you know what it said?

12 packs, coke products, now just $4.50.

that was the discounted price. four and a half american dollars.

am i taking crazy pills? does that seem high for a discount to anyone else?

yeah, i didn’t buy any on principle alone. i won’t say this dismal economy hasn’t given me anything. it’s helping me quit diet coke one grocery run at a time. on the other hand, i sound really old complaining about this (when cigarettes are up to a dollar a pack, i’m QUITTING!)

i'm just not that into you.

i spent this valentine's day watching he's just not that into you with my mom, sister, grandma and aunts.

i simply OOZE mojo! i will soon start writing books and teaching seminars on being awesome.

***if you're going to see the movie and you don't want me to color your perception of the film, then read this post instead.***











remember how i lalaloved the book? i peddle messages from my friend greg's admonitions the way i should be preaching christianity and 30 rock (both excellent things, i might add). i found the book completely liberating. drinking from the pages of wit and sharp honesty, i felt fantastic about my life and my "pretty." after reading it i felt confident, sane, hopeful. i had tremendous feelings of empathy and goodwill for the opposite sex. grounded but hopeful, i felt about humanity the way that barack obama felt about america before inauguration day. it was that good!

and then i saw that movie.

surprised at myself for saying this, but i LOVE gennifer goodwin's hair in it. and i can't find a good picture of it, natch.

basically, everything other than gennifer goodwin's hair was mediocre at best. for such a real, in-your-face book, the movie fell hopelessly flat for me. greg behrendt's book is based on the premise that you can't change people, and that being happy with yourself and accepting people for who they are is the recipe for peace in your personal life.

the movie just shows a host of people making dramatic personality changes in a matter of 5 minutes, which i'm guessing in real time would be about a week.

the book teaches you that the "exception to the rule" that you see in movies isn't real and that you probably won't have that in your life, but that doesn't mean that things won't be splendid and wonderful. you don't need to be the exception to be happy. to be honest, i've kind of built my life on that whole attitude. i think it's important to enjoy the simple things, choose to be happy and consciously pick out the good stuff to celebrate every day.

the movie blasts out exception after exception after exception...and i'm sitting there thinking...did greg get a look at this script before they started filming this? or...seriously. beuller? what happened here?

what did you think? i mean, am i up in the night? did i just accidentally wear my grouchy pants to the theater, or was this movie a little off base?

can i just tell you

that i only had one diet coke today?

i’m totally serious. now, there are quite a few days when i only have one diet coke, but usually that’s because the one diet coke i had was, oh, i don’t know, a super big gulp (hi, mukesh!).

but today it was just one can. i cracked that baby open about 11am and at 3:30, i was still working on it. by that time of course, it was straight up room temperature. but i didn’t mind, not one iota.

don’t you love it when people use the word “iota?” i think you should use it in a sentence today. i already did.

what does this mean (only having one diet coke, not the word “iota”)? am i losing my taste for the bubbly? has this happened to you before?

the district.

in honor of the president on tv tonight, i thought i’d give all y’all a little primer. the video below ought to bring you up to speed on obama’s presidency thus far. my fave is when he tells everyone that he and hillary used to be frenemies. i sure do love ya, newsweek, and your tremendous wit! way to go proving to all of us that mtv isn’t the only one that can rip off mtv shows.

notice.

i’ve said it before, and i’ll say it again: while the music of avid-day ook-cay is often released and put on a heavy loop on the “listen while you work” radio station simultaneously, i continue to listen to it and cubicle dance ever so subtly when it comes up on my playlist.

notice that the song is not on my blog playlist. this is because i like to give the illusion of being a tiny bit cool at certain times. but since i tell my blog everything, i’m saying right now that i will continue to leave a light on in my heart for david cook as long as he continues producing power ballads with dramatic key changes where appropriate. a well-timed minor third never hurts, and there is no such thing as too many power chords.

i’m also not that threatened by his girlfriend. i have learned well the rules of the rock-n-roll lifestyle by watching rock of love with bret michaels, rock of love II with bret michaels and snippets of the rock of love bus with bret michaels, and i’m not sure kim can hack that lifestyle. i don’t believe that i could tolerate the rock-n-roll lifestyle either, but i do believe that i am very pushy. perhaps i could change the lifestyle? you never know.

i’m just saying, i wouldn’t be shocked if it isn’t long before the tour is over for her.

sorry, babe, but every rose has its thorn. i mean we’ll leave a light on when you’re gone. no we won’t.

story time.

like anyone else, i’ve had a number of dating adventures in my time. when crazy things go down, i want to tell my blog about them right away, but i try to hold off a bit, because you know, a couple people read this thing.

anyway, i think i’ve waited long enough for this one.

this experience is from the 2008 archive of the life of hollylynn. it’s a fairly accurate transcript of a phone conversation i had with a boy i had been on a couple dates with who was a nice kid, but let’s be honest, the definition of “not my type.”

phone: (rings)
me: hi, [boy’s name].
boy: hey, hollylynn what’s up? i have to tell you something that is going to come out weird so will you promise not to be weird about it? because it’s weird but just don’t be weird ok?
me: i...promise?
boy: ok cool. well i have someone i want you to meet.
me: (pause)
boy: i was just thinking that we’ve been out twice and i’m never going to get anywhere with you so i thought i’d introduce you to [other boy’s name]. he’s a [skilled professional with an advanced degree] living in [a nearby city].
me: you are so strange.
boy: i’m not strange! i just think you’re the coolest girl and i like to take care of my friends. and this guy is well, he’s older, and he’s, well, he’s really good looking! i want to give him your phone number.
me: well if he’s good looking…
boy: just you know, keep me in the loop.
me: well i’m not going to do that at all.
boy: no hollylynn, you have to keep me in the loop because if you marry [other boy’s name], you have to promise that i can [perform certain service] at your wedding.
me: what a brilliant sales tool. lining up your friends with each other with the hope that some of them will marry off.
boy: ok, so i’ll give him your phone number.
me: also this is a very creative way of telling me that you don’t want to see me anymore.
boy: ok so he’ll probably call you tomorrow. peace!

so, sound off, blog friends. have you ever been lined up on a date by someone you were dating? part of me thinks that if it happened to me, it might be something that happens to other people too, but then again…WTF?

resolution inspiration #3

and now to help me with my third resolution, jacqueanne, one of my england girls and friend i think of more like a sister. we sure miss you jac. thanks for being my final guest blogger.

3 Reasons I <3 the UK

1. Public Transport: it's reliable, consistent and easy to use it. Everyone uses it, the rich the poor and those of us in the middle. Every morning I take two trains and buses to work. People from all walks of life travel with me and bonus I've made some British friends on my way to work. It's clean and convenient, also I can get loads of work done while I rock out to my Ipod, what's not to love?

2. Tea: I'm a school teacher and we have tea break twice daily. There are about 20 different kinds of tea as well as coffee and hot choc in our staff room. A tea cup is essential for people here. It's a real part of their culture. No matter where you go, Starbucks, Costa, a random trolley in the train station about 90% of the people are ordering tea. Then there are really posh teas where you go with your mates and have a proper cream tea. Each person selects a tea they bring you the tea in fine bone china tea pots and cups. The cream comes in the scones they bring with it, cut in half spread with jam and loads of freshly whipped cream, no sugar added - lovely! Even if you're just having a tea at your house there is decorum, you serve it with biscuits, round sweet crackers often topped with chocolate, caramel, etc. They are called savoury biscuits and there is an entire aisle at the grocery store devoted to the biscuits. Last but not least they have electric kettles to make tea making tea easier than ever. You feel this pitcher container with water, set it on it's base and in under a minute it boils the water for you and turns itself off. I'm addicted I've had tea everyday since I moved here. It's irresistible.

3. Brave Fashion Choices: First of all I don't live in London, I live south on the coast in a city called Brighton. So although this does apply to London it also applies to the people I see in my city and those along the way. Every where I go it's brightly colored tights, high boots, skinny jeans, flashy mini boots in all colors, braids in the hair, faux fur coats (beautiful not trashy), funky hats, gorgeous scarves, uber preppy stripes and plaid. Often I feel as if I've stepped into an add for British gossip girl. And that's just the girls. The boys where clothes much more fitted without looking punk rock. They take pride in their appearances: lovely sweaters, jeans that are much more fitted and nicer, less t shirts, more shine. This also applies to people of all ages 5 year olds in gorgeous pea coats and wellies, 50 year olds in short boots and daring jackets. Most days I feel that I could run a fashion magazine with snapshots of the styles I encounter. People are just generally more fashion aware and brave. It doesn't always work out for them, but most of the time they look pretty great and I find myself being a bit braver.

i want to go to there.

let me begin by saying that i know liz lemon is not a real person. also, i know that liz lemon has taken over carrie bradshaw's place as most optimistically relateable tv character de jour.

ok.

but ever since i've had brown hair, on days that i wear my plastic rim glasses and have crazy adventures, well i feel like i'm channeling my inner liz.

not so much the smart, cool tina fey, but the quirky, overwhelmed (but still lovable) liz.

we've talked about celebrity doppelgangers here before, but what about tv/movie characters? what fictional character do you identify yourself with? any other liz lemons out there? and...if you are a jenna, please call me so we can be best friends!

by the by, tonight's episode of 30 rock was pure genius. here are my favorite liz quotes of the night:

i want to go to there.

and then i will put my mouth on his mouth.

c'mon, buster...let's get you into your special kitchen cabinet!

i am the generalismo!

jk.

i know my dear domestic becky put a lot of time into coming up with those signature dessert ideas, but today i found this wikihow article via my igoogle page:

how to bake a cake in a mug

that’s right. i saw something about this on someone’s facebook status and i didn’t really buy it, to be honest. but lo and behold, it is a real thing. if it’s on wikipedia, it’s real, y’all. and i might try it.

you do it in the microwave, people. THE MICROWAVE!

nathan even said, “and you could make it for people. just get a lot of mugs.”

jackpot!

resolution inspiration #2

let's give a big skinny welcome to emily margaret over at true confessions of a bleachaholic. em is another good friend of mine and the most fashionable girl i've ever met in real life. eat up her advice, my dears!


Happy New Year Upper East Siders…

So, it’s the New Year and your pocket book is no fuller than it was December 31st?

Don’t even worry about it because this country’s historic downward spiral towards total economic catastrophe happens to be your very lucrative shoportunity. The recession has forced retailers to slash already low post-holiday clearance to such shocking depths that even the most humble working girl can rock some serious labels on the cheap.

The best way to look on point this season while rocking the latest trends is to mix high end pieces with affordable trend looks from retailers like Target, H&M and Forever 21 and still have enough left over to treat yourself to a celebratory Diet Coke. Because really, looking good and having a Coke is really the only way to go through life; all you need to top it off is Michael Cera as your adorable and sweet BF.

This winter warm your frosty self with Bleachaholic’s top six on the cheap:

Plaid is a hot way to stay warm and chic in these chilly winter months. Bleachaholic can never seem to get enough ruffled blouses and this one is the perfect marriage of girly detailing and Seattle grunge era rock; layer this with a grandpa style cardigan or a leather bomber jacket for some edge.
Forever 21 $17.80
http://www.forever21.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=FOREVER21&category%5Fname=whatsnew%5Fapp&product%5Fid=2056915971&Page=1

Do not be afraid! Bleachaholic herself has a pair of these amazing leather stretch leggings and can’t seem to take hers off. These are truly an inspirational piece of clothing because they make you look skinnier than you ever thought you could look and they are so cutting edge and chic right now. If these Member’s Only leggings are good enough for Rihanna, they are good enough for you. I wear mine under sweet tunics and short dresses with my converse, so cute!
Urban Outfitters $59.99 from $88.00
http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&navAction=jump&id=15188055&search=true&isProduct=true&parentid=SEARCH+RESULTS&color=01

So Blair! This dreamy coat is the perfect piece to take you from winter into spring; I love the nautical detailing and color scheme. I would rock this coat with white skinny jeans as the days get warmer, let’s face facts friends; I would wear it every day no matter the season because it is so amazing!
Mod Cloth $47.49 from $94.99
http://www.modcloth.com/store/ModCloth/Womens/Outerwear/The+Parisian+Trench

Bleachaholic has a serious weakness for cute accessories and adorable watches like this take it to the next level. This ironic little number is the perfect gift to get yourself this Valentine’s Day when Michael Cera doesn’t call. Love is the new Hate; Love it!
Urban Outfitters $28.00
http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&navAction=jump&id=15996705&search=true&isProduct=true&parentid=SEARCH+RESULTS&color=66

I love feathers, you love feathers, we all love feathers; and as a nod to our fine feathers friends why not rock this beautiful headband? I have been looking for one like this for a long time. It makes me want to be outdoors which you know is something that happens like, never!
Fred Flare $32.00
http://fredflare.com/customer/product.php?productid=4541&cat=297

This bag is too perfect! If this bag were a boy I would marry it, move to suburbia and have 3.5 kids; it is that good. Bleachaholic loves the vintage inspired attention to detail, not to mention it is that difficult to find perfect shade of brown that goes with everything. The price on this one is just too good to pass up girls!
Mod cloth $26.24 from $34.99
http://www.modcloth.com/store/Womens/Accessories/Bags/Claire+Handbag

And remember, not all those who wander are lost and if you find yourself in need of some inspiration/guidance just reference the old standards: Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Sex and City and Gossip Girl. You are well on your way to fashionable new you on the cheap for 2009; no one is quite as fabulous as you because you bring something to the table that no one else can, your individual style sense.

exciting news.

you. i need to talk to...both of you...about something exciting.

i have exciting news that people are talking about. (name that movie i probably misquoted.)

it's called the sweet tooth fairy bake shop and if you live in utah, you need to go to there immediately if not sooner.

i just went. yes, i enjoy baked goods now and again. if i didn't, this blog would be called, "since i'm really skinny."

now that that's cleared up.

i selected a black and white cookie (chocolate cookie with "signature" cream cheese frosting) and a strawberry shortcake cupcake (some kind of white flavored cake with real strawberry frosting and a slice of chocolate covered strawberry on top).

i'll be honest, i thought i'd prefer the cookie. and ok, it was basically the best cookie i've tasted in years (sorry, mom, grandma and all my aunts). but then i tried the cupcake and i said out loud when i tasted that frosting:

are you kidding me right now?

friends, this is the frosting we will eat on everything in heaven.

like seriously, go there and get that damn cupcake. you won't be sorry.

resolution inspiration #1

please welcome domestic becky, author of project domestication and utah loves cupcakes and real life friend of mine. she is a domestic goddess and baker/cook extraordinaire, not to mention one of the coolest chicks i know.





A signature dessert is just as much an accessory to a person as a statement necklace is to the perfect outfit. We'll need to do some self exploration and set rules first…


The Working Girl = You live a busy life. Find a recipe that isn't going to take hours to make or possibly one you can make in advance.

Idaho Girl = Use a family recipe. History makes dessert special.

Less is More = Dessert is a date-type situation; leave your guests wanting more. Don't make your portions huge.

Fresh is Best = Support local. Fresh and local ingredients are the way to go.

Style = Buy some serve ware that fits your personality. Check out online sales and go to stores like Ross and TJ Max. Be sure to buy 4-8 dishes.

With these tips in mind, allow me to recommend five potential signature dishes.





Each dish includes three basic components. It's up to you to decide how involved you'll be. Depending on time you could purchase the item, buy a mix or make from scratch. I would begin by mastering one component and build up to all three, making it your very own.

Let's dive right into options for the Holly Cake. Say you decide to master a pound cake recipe, but don't care about the other components. Easy, buy whipped cream and fresh fruit, then garnish with fine sugar.

To focus on the whipped cream: purchase the dairy from a local vendor and make it yourself. Play around with flavorings like real vanilla beans, amaretto, Mexican vanilla or rum to make it your own.

If fruit is most important, try making a coulee. This basically takes any combination of fresh berries/fruit, mashing and cooking a portion with flavorings, then adding whole fruit at the end.

So there you go Holly Girl! Good Luck, I expect to see some chic and saucy desserts soon!