Must See Movie Rental!

"Grace is Gone" is one of those films that has a profound affect on those who see it. John Cusack plays an average father who, upon learning that his wife has been killed in combat, embarks on a spur of the moment road trip with is two daughters. The pain of his loss is compounded by his inability to tell his girls what happened to their mother. The supporting cast is phenomenal at portraying a real family, and John Cusack is brilliant in his role. Even though it sounds like more tears than smiles, this move is a must see. It will enrich your life, trust me.

Paris Fashion Week

Of the many shows of Paris Fashion Week, there does seem to be a common thread. Spring 2010 will bring back the "Roaring 20's" with a modern bohemian twist. Next season will be feminine, sexy, colorful and flamboyant. So what does fashion week in Paris mean for us regular gals? This is absolutely the most perfect time to be shopping for spring and summer clothes! Before you bundle up and hit the clearance racks, spend a short time checking out the runway shows and get a solid idea of what you are looking for. We don't want to get a bunch of "great deals" that don't work together. I recommend going to www.nymag.com/fashion/. Be sure to check out Valentino(A+), Collette Dinnigan(A), Giles Deacon(A-), John Galliano(B+), Hermes(B), and Elie Saab(B-). (Pay no attention to the living skeletons wearing the designs. I'm sure they have paramedics standing by to attend to anyone who keels over from mal-nutrition.) If you prefer the "cliff notes" version, here it is. Look for lightweight pencil skirts for the office and whimsical flapper style dresses for everything else. Keep your eyes peeled for loose, flowy fabric with light ruffling. Next spring's color palette will be made up of greys, charcoal, white, butter, melon and navy. After you've done your homework, hit the second hand stores and clearance racks. Above all, find things you like with flattering silhouettes that you may strut your stuff with style next season. Happy hunting!

Our Love/Hate Relationship With Waiting

If waiting is so good for us, why do we hate it so much? I'm not referring to waiting in line at the market. I'm talking about the kind of waiting that requires a more majestic word. Anticipation is more appropriate. When we are anticipating that moment of gratification-a promotion we've worked so hard for, the wedding we've spent our childhood planning, love's first kiss- we sit on the edge of our seats and wait. It feels like agony, as if the world stands still and waits with us. Then, for that brief moment when the wait comes to an end, we are satisfied, and the earth resumes it's course. Yet we know all too well that the clock also resumes it's ticking and time, it's relentless advantage. Though all is well, it is not as it should be. We begin to miss the stirring- the desire of anticipation, that uneasy longing. Do we have a sort of primal thirst for whatever it is that we do not have? Because the moment we have it, the thirst creeps up again for a new conquest. Could we perhaps learn to love anticipation for what it is? It is the great expectation from which true passion arises.

Must See Movie Rental!

I don't typically write about movies, but this one is a must see. "House of Flying Daggers" is the most visually extravagent film I have seen in ages. Ziyi Zhang (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) is stunning and superb. Her portrayal of Mei, a blind dancer associated with a dangerous rebel force, is exquisite. Male stars Takeshi Kaneshiro and Andy Lau bring depth and complexity to well written characters. If you like martial arts, these meticulously coreographed fight scenes are top notch. Amazing cinematography and a well executed plot come together to make House of Flying Daggers one of my all time favorites.

Faux Conscience

While compiling a wish list for my approaching 32nd birthday and Christmas, I stumbled upon some strange feelings. Is it morally wrong to buy a knock-off handbag? The "faux" handbags are genuine calf skin and still cost the same as the monthly payment on my husband's work vehicle. This is the vehicle in which he transports carpet, tile, tools, wood, etc., all around town working his ass off to put food on the table for us. When it comes to getting a great deal, I am a champion. I rarely buy anything new, opting instead to troll second hand stores for anything I can't make myself. So why, I ask myself, do I feel the need to own a truly magnificent handbag? I realize that just because I am fabulous, doesn't mean I am entitled to have fabulous material things. I am young and have plenty of time to earn money and buy nice things. Unfortunately, affordable purses are purely functional and virtually indistinguishable. Designer handbags, however, are like art that you carry around with you and put things in. Faux bags look like art and cost a pretty penny, but they are still just forgeries-copies of someone else's genius. So I lack respect for even a high quality counterfeit, yet have only enough net worth to purchase a brass buckle off the soft calf hobo by Prada that I adore. What am I to do? After much soul and internet searching, I have decided to follow in the footsteps of the great Coco Chanel. The ropes of pearls, an intigral part of her signature style, she preferred to be fake. To wear that many real pearls of that size would simply be vulgar. So, until I can afford to feed a small country and have done so, wearing genuine Prada on my shoulder will have to wait. Nevertheless, Prada employees will still have their jobs whether I buy a knockoff Prada, or a cheap vinyl number at Walmart. When you see me around town, you can safely assume that my jewelry is off the clearance rack, my clothes are second hand, and my Prada handbag is indeed a fake. I will look and feel fantastic, conscience in tact.

Recommended Reading-"Pure Skin"

"Pure Skin -Organic Beauty Basics" by Barbara Close, is a beauty text book worth reading and keeping around for later reference. Ms. Close authored two other books and is the founder and president of a holistic spa in East Hampton, NY. If she's good enough for East Hampton, she's good enough for me. Who am I kidding? I would take advice from the stylish gamines who live above me. I digress. "Pure Skin" has a wealth of information for all skin types and is presented in simple, easy to understand categories. The essential oil information is especially interesting and informative. Thankfully there are some magic potions for all of us amateur scientists out there (more like habitual guinea pigs). You'll find recipes for body scrubs, hair conditioning treatments, facial toners and several other inspiring ideas for spending an otherwise wasted Saturday afternoon. I was also pleased with the accessibility of the suggested ingredients. Many times organic beauty supplies either cost more than rent or require a scavenger hunt through a crowded health store. I have found myself being forced to ask an all too natural sales lady for ingredients I can't pronounce. As she looks me up and down, notices my product saturated hair and freshly shaved legs, I get the sense that she doesn't want to help me, as I am clearly not the ideal candidate for non-refined wheat germ oil. On the contrary, these ingredients are all fairly recognizable and easy to find. Though steamy bubble bath literature it is not, this book is practical and may help with some of those pesky skin issues we all have.

Oktoberfest not Festive

As I am somewhat of a festival junkie, I was looking forward to this year's Oktoberfest. I had visions of German costumes, booths filled with quaint little things, and of course the "bier". I was annoyed as my better half immediately expressed disappointment with the event. He rarely waits 5 minutes before offering "constructive criticism". I, however, try to see the fun in any event. Sadly, I was forced to concede to the better half within 5 minutes. This is precisely how long it took us to tour the entire event with two stages at each end. One stage, a small band was performing polka (cool), the other was hosting some sort of chicken dance competition (not so cool). As I searched for a destination, my fantasy bubble was rapidly deflating. To be exact, I saw 2 stages, 2 bier tents, 1 jaggermeister tent, 1 brat tent, 1 blow-up ultimate fighting thing, and 1 "quaint little things" vendor. Hoping the entire afternoon would not be a flop, I sent better half to get bier, so I could survey our options and find something fun to do. Long story made short, this event is kid-friendly only if yours will stay in a stroller while you sit on a bench and throw back bier. In order to ensure a good time, you will need good friends and a sitter. This is a great venue to bring some buddies, sit outside and shoot the breeze while you shoot Jaggermeister and bier. If you like the community pub feel, bring close friends and leave the kiddos at home. I'll be there next year, minus the underage Larson. See you there!