Coooookies

I spent some long overdue QT with my cousin Jennifer. She and I are only 4 months apart and were always together when we were young, only to grow up and slightly grow apart. Now I'm not saying we aren't close, because she is the sister I never had, but it's just what happens when you go to different high schools, then colleges, then live in 2 different states. She just got engaged, and I was fortunate enough to see her new place with her fiance and bake some cookies with her. Well, she baked them, I frosted them. Yummy!

Dumb-Dumb of the Week: Christmas Bomber

It's been all over the news since Christmas Day when Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab attempted to blow up his flight over Detroit. My boyfriend and I both had to fly through Detroit this holiday, but luckily missed this incident. I will say that living in NY does bring me some fear, especially when traveling. I pray that we may all travel without fear of some idiots trying to terrorize us. Well, I hope this guy suffers in jail in solitary confinement for the rest of his life. What a bastard....to Umar and al Qaeda.

Yard Sale Chic: Under $150 Part Deux

While Christmas shopping for others, I of course went overboard on myself. Then again, spending less than $150 and getting 2 pairs of boots, a t shirt, grungy jeans, sweater, scarf, nail polish, and a few vintage Playboy tins of mints (for friends!) is far from over-indulgence.

Flab Freezing

Ohhhh my goodness, researchers have discovered the answer to my muffin-top issues! Some girls gain weight in their butt, others in their thighs, and the lucky ones gain weight in their boobs. I am one of the many who gain weight in the love-handle area. Spanx were made for me! I have to pull my pants over fatty areas, just in an attempt to hide them. Anywho, brilliant minds have developed a procedure that freezes your fat cells called Cryolipolysis. Basically, the use of a machine called a "Zeltiq" uses cold to freeze fat cells, which somehow shrinks them. I'm no scientist, but you can read about it here.

(Image via Angeliska)

Das Boot

I had yet another wonderful time at home in Fort Wayne, Indiana. What short time I had there, I spent with my family and friends. The best thing about my hometown friends is they are the exact same people I grew up with. As my friend Alex said, "Cheers, we have been drinking for 10 years!". And yes, we did a lot of that. Check out all my friends taking down the infamous "Das Boot". Jason chugged about half the boot, and then puked up the half, and then drank the rest of it. Ohhh the high school days!

Socks and Sandals

Once thought of as a fashion faux-pas, socks and sandals are considered quite chic these days (when worn correctly...not wearing your Gold Toe socks with your Adidas sandals). Perhaps this became a style out of necessity based on the economy. I certainly don't have enough money to buy a fabulous summer shoe and an equally awesome fall/winter shoe, so this style fits my fashion on a budget.

(Image via Stylesightings)

Lovers

You couldn't re-enact such a classic couple's photo even if you tried!
Not to mention, that weapon is very impressive. What do you do with that thing? You spy on peeps through the scope and then run up behind them and stab them with the bayonet? Feisty!

(Image via Dlisted)

The New Fad

In my 25 years of life, I have seen the "it" skirt be a billowy peasant skirt all the way to a super-tight mini and every length and width in between. My personal fav is a short, but flouncy skirt....something that is reminiscent of what you wore in grade school. However, I am totally digging the new fad in skirt lengths, and that my friends is the below the knee, fitted skirt. This will accentuate every curve of your body...which means my booty will be more defined. The trick to wearing these skirts is to make sure you are proportionate (i.e. A cropped shirt with the longer skirt)

Love it!

(Images via Refinery29)

Bacon-Flavored Goodies

If it wasn't for religious reasons, diet restrictions, or personal beliefs, Bacon would be everyone's favorite food. I don't care what anyone says, everything tastes better with bacon, but to be honest, you don't actually need to eat real bacon to get that smoky-flavored goodness. There is a mecca of bacon-flavored goodies and they are in high demand. Here are a few favs of mine:

* Bacon-flavored popcorn (both vegetarian and kosher btw)

* Bakon vodka (for yummy bloody marys)

* Maple-Bacon coffee (I'll wake up to a cup of that!)
* Mmmvelopes (sending letters never tasted so good)

MTV's Jersey Shore....Another one of my guilty pleasures

I'm sure my friends aren't shocked when I say that MTV's new reality show, Jersey Shore, is awesome. I blame it on the East Coasters who went to IU, where I observed their ways of life like a zoologist studying the behaviors of lions. I even took a liking to the Gotti boys.

Until moving to NY, I thought all New Yorkers were like the Looong Island/Joisey guidos and guidettes I saw at school. To my surprise, I never saw one of these stereotypicals guids in Manhattan. I guess these people all hide at the Jersey Shore, because I went there 2 summers ago and was in a land of fist pumps, hair bumps, Affliction tees, and hair gel. I was so tramatized I told my bf to take me to the train stop and I would rather take a 2 hour train back to Manhattan than get my eyes poked out by some guy's blow-out. Nonetheless, the Jersey Shore show brings me back to my days of observing the weird phenomena of the guids without actually being in their presence. Me likey.

(Image via nydailynews)

Dumb-Dumb of the Week: Piano Man's Daughter

Alexa Ray Joel, daughter of Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley was hospitalized after an alleged (news word for "it's true, it really happened") suicide attempt where she ingested a cornucopia of sleeping pills at her West Village apartment. I just don't get it. I know money is not the most important thing in the world, but if you are depressed or something, money could get you a good therapist, psychiatrist, shopping spree, anything to help the pain! Well, glad to hear she is doing well.

(Image via Dlisted)

Goodbye November

I am very thankful for my friends, family, job, apartment, food in the fridge, clothes in my closet, but to be honest, there are so many more things to be grateful for that there aren't enough words to express my thanks. My 25th Birthday has passed, Thanksgiving has passed, November has passed. It was a great month!

(Image via fuckyeahdogs!)