My Christmas Wishlist

Me at Christmas around 1994. This photo was taken at my Grandmama/Grandpapa's house on Jackson Avenue in Lexington, VA. LOVE my skirt! ha!


In my family, as there are so many of us, we have to write a list every year. It gets given to the significant other and the parents are both CC:d on the email. Basically, this list is done so there is no possible duplication of gifts. I was surprised to learn as I grew up that I had many friends who never did a list! Imagine my surprise! Wow!

Anyway, I am one of those people who always asks for books. I think books are the one amendment to the rule on not re-gifting. You can re-gift a book, or give a used book, and it is just as good as a brand new one. You are being good to the Earth, and what if the book is something perfect for a friend or family member. Obviously, I normally own up to it being "used" or whatever, and give another gift to even things out a bit, but I never see why that is wrong, right? [Although if the book smells like cigarettes, or you are giving a book to a germaphobe, then things may want to be adjusted on a case-by-case basis! ha!]

The following items are some of the many things on my wish list this year. These are normally guidelines for family who just don't know what to get me, so these are normally a list of want/needs:

The Cricut Expression. It is an expensive item, but I know with my jewelry-making, scrap-booking and other heart-friendly activities that I would use the heck out of this item. It looks like something way more entertaining and time-saving in comparison to my current trace-and-cut methods for items! Plus, I see it as ideal for things like designing attractive boxes for presentation (i.e. a pair of earrings I designed, etc.).



The Conair I-series Ionic hair dryer. Yes, it is a pink hairdryer! However, it is an ionic hairdryer which is way more forgiving on my thin, baby-fine hair. It can take my hair 5 hours to air dry, literally. This hair dryer should help me figure out how to style my hair now that it is to my belly-button. I am running out of ideas and I really don't want to chop it off, yet!



One of the most controversial films of its time (the glove strip-tease scene), Gilda is an American film classic. I love this movie and the music, the dancing and Rita Hayworth! I have been compared to her (hello, super compliment) and I just love her as such a vivacious character in this film!



Trailer for Gilda, a Columbia Pictures film:



From Williams-Sonoma, I asked for the long stainless steel All-Clad ladle. I make lots of stocks from scratch in a big tall stock pot, as well as making lots of soups and stews in the winter, so I would get a lot of wear out of this kitchen piece.



I love a specific product from Origins, called Clear Improvement. It is a fantastic mask that I can rely on to completely resurface my face and neck to baby-soft cleanliness. It uses charcoal, white Chinese clay and other ingredients to completely clear my pores out. Love. Love. Love!



As I began my entry, I mentioned books. I asked for several this year for Christmas, but here are a few of my favorites:

The 1982 edition of Martha Stewart's Entertaining:


The Woman's Guide to Law School by Linda Hirshman:


and, the book Pinstripes and Pearls: The Women of the Harvard Law Class of 1964 by Judith Hope:



What did you ask for for Christmas?

Black Swan movie trailer

I cannot wait to see the Black Swan once it hits theaters in my area. I danced ballet for about 12-13 years (starting at age 3, when I first began riding and gymnastics as well), and dance was a huge passion for my entire childhood. It was when things got very competitive among my friends (most of whom I don't speak to anymore) and expensive (the costumes, supplies, hours, and classes) that I could no longer handle the pressure, as all the joy of the 'sport' left me. It was at this time that I then started to play field hockey and lacrosse and devoted my time to those things instead. I felt as though ballet was one of few competitive fields where when you stopped "playing" the competition continued outside of the studio. Most field sports stopped when the game ended for me. Ballet was not the case.



It looks to be scary-mental, obviously, as it is a thriller, but thankfully it also looks to be incredible. I would say Oscar contender for sure! I really have to enjoy the plot of a thriller to get into it. I am not a person who goes out and sees all of the scary movies in theaters - I frankly detest most. It is movies like the Black Swan, mental thrillers, that really capture my attention. Are you planning on seeing it?

Don't Rain on My Parade

Much love to the fabulous, amazing and talented Ms. Barbra Streisand:






XOXO
W

The Romantics

I must see this movie! Comes out Sept 10 (i.e. this weekend).



Cast includes:
Adam Brody (adore him)
Dianna Agron (thats Quinn from Glee, y'all)
Joey Potter.... I mean Katie Holmes
Candice Bergman
Anna Paquin

Clearly it cannot suck with this cast, it'll be cheesy yes, but certainly perfect for me to see without M.

And was it filmed on the Hamptons? Certainly looks like it!

Only funny VMA Moment

This was great. Tom Cruise is weird, but this s$%t was funny!



Okay, yes, admittedly, these are songs from the early 2000s, but lets try and remember Tom Cruise's character Les Grossman is a late 40s, early 50s guy and wouldn't give a crap about when a song came out.

Yes, I know this is backwards...

Babies documentary

I WANT TO SEE THIS!!

Too cute for words!





Here is a short featurette, too:



Love for your child is universal! So wonderful

SATC 2 Trailer #2

I seriously cannot wait. I know I am a dork, but really, what else have I been able to quote from since 1999?

Happy Monday, y'all!

Brogue Shoes in Spring 2010 fashion

In Gaelic, "brog" means shoe, so brogues have been around for a loooong time!


Bloch London Women's Brogue Flats for less than $200. This line is popular with dancers, but I know I don't dance anymore and appreciate the comfort these shoes provide...

Brogue shoes... some of you may say, "ew" while others say, "shoes men wear?"

Well, in fact, brogues are not a new style for women to wear. While in the past few decades they have been worn by men who work in funeral homes, ruined by Doc Martens, etc, the brogue was a huge fashion statement in the 1930s - post-WWII United States. They are often confused with oxfords, but they are very similar!

Even Queen Elizabeth II wore brogues, especially around Balmoral, as you can see here in this Getty Images photograph from the field:



The word brogue is defined by Webster's Dictionary as, "an Irish accent in the pronunciation of English" or "any strong regional accent". However, it is also defined as, "a coarse, usually untanned leather shoe once worn in Ireland and Scotland" and "a durable, comfortable, low-heeled shoe, often having decorative perforations and a wing tip".

Norma Shearer is working it with the brogues. Love the look, I'd wear this outfit to watch a golf tournament on a cool early Spring or Fall day (from Seraphic Press):




Katharine Hepburn made them very popular as well, and this look is how I am most familiar with brogues (from: Disconaplondon):



However, we have modern-day celebrities who worked the brogue look last summer, here we have Olivia Palermo and Emma Watson (from Eonline):



If I were to wear brogues to school or work, this may be how I would do it. Isn't she pretty and comfortable, without looking like a slob? Note the jewelry, the relaxed hairstyle, the warm-weather scarf, and the rolled up relaxed shorts... this is from last October. (from the Sartorialist):


I am a big believer in wearing what you find comfortable from the inside out- then again, I have a lot of interesting lingerie I have accrued over the years... ANYWAY, shoes I think are most important to be comfortable in. Who wants to look like a hot mess going down the street in shoes you don't feel good in? A lot of people will not like brogues because they are soooo menswear-ish, but a lot of other readers may find they put a new spin on the same outfits you have worn all along!


High end - Fratelli Rossetti for $490.00 on Zappos.com



Medium-end - Boutique 9 for $150.00 on Zappos.com. I like these because they are Hepburn-esque and toned down.



Low-end - Franco Sarto for $78.95 on Zappos.com. I like these because they come in black or ocean. The ocean shade is just sooo pretty!


Some people even used to wear them for tennis or golf, as they went better with their longer skirts rather than the more popular short skirt/skort-sneaker look that we are familiar with today...

So, what do you all think of brogues?

Giving Back

Property of Variety


By now, if you haven't heard that Roger Ebert has been suffering, and now in remission, from thyroid cancer - then you live in a hole. Or, you aren't a real movie fan.



Photo property of Esquire magazine


Regardless, I have always seen him as an admirable, talented individual. How many people can you count that have won the Pulitzer Prize in Journalism, when most of their writing (10,000+) is movie reviews? He isn't dry or humorless. He actually writes about the film, its nuances, provides background on the cast and crew, and is honest.

He was on Oprah yesterday, and you should check that out. There are two clips on the website out of a roughly 13-15 minute interview.

He has a blog he keeps now, and you should read it. Yes, he is politically different from me, but I am not closed-minded and am willing to read his opinion as he is highly educated, well-read, and worldly. I have always enjoyed a good debate/discussion.

He has a Twitter, you should follow him.

And if you really want to catch up on lost time, read the Esquire interview that catches you up on everything since 2002. He is The Essential Man.

I joined The Ebert Club today. $4.99 on Paypal. Simple, easy. I am always willing to give back to someone who has saved me money.

This was the comment I submitted to his journal:

Mr. Ebert -

I am a college student who grew up in a film-heavy household with a father who was a Theater major (since Film wasn't an option at W&L in the 1970s). We watched movies every weekend, whether at home or in the movie theater. I grew up watching your show with Gene Siskel with my father when I was small, and it was fun to bond over and look forward to your reviews so we could determine what movies we were going to see next. My entire family was moved to tears by the Esquire story, and I have enjoyed following your website/journal. Yesterday your interview with Oprah was intense and personal for me as my Aunt has suffered from, and survived mouth cancer THREE times, and it made me realize how grateful I should be for my own health. I was more than happy to join the Ebert Club for $4.99, not for the features, but to be able to give something back to you. Break it down this way, all of the good movies you have reviewed I have seen, and at $5.00-9.00 a ticket for movies I may have seen if you hadn't said how "thumbs down" they were, makes even more sense to give back to you. You have saved me a lot of money, and you are an individual whose writing has been inspirational for quite some time.

Thank you

Moving

I find this clip to be incredibly moving...




Just so sad...

He's Just Not That Into You

One of my BFF's - Zazu Pitts, and I saw He's Just Not that Into You this weekend. We went to a less-popular theater and got great seats and I had so much fun seeing a chick flick.

Of course, since I was seeing it with her, and we both are as bad as Whitney Port (of The Hills) when it comes to facial expressions - we had to make many and express shock over some scenes. I never read the book (as I have been unlucky in love but haven't had issues with anyone in a long-long term relationship) - and have always chocked up experiences as just that, experience. I am not a 30-something like the women all in this movie are (well, upper 20s with Gennifer Goodwin, of course).

All in all, I loved the movie. There were parts where it kind-of dragged, and I felt like the "interviews" between "chapters" was a bit cliche, then again this was written by a former member of the original SATC crew. BUT, acting was good, lines were funny, guys were occasionally a-holes, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Harry Potter!

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, you know I am excited!

Weekend

The weekend I just had was uneventful, to say the least!

Friday night Mike and I just lazed around, which is always good, and I did a good bit of studying while drinking some wine and not accomplishing as much as I'd like.

Saturday was a little bit more of the same, except we went to Short Pump in the early afternoon, saw the ultimate cheesy-sad movie, Nights in Rodanthe, and then went shopping at the Ukrops by the theater.

Nights in Rodanthe, impressively enough, was a lot like the book, except for the part about her father, and the time-span. But other than that, it was great and cheesy and depressing, and made me miss the beach that much more. I think Mike now gets why I <3 OBX, esp. the lower islands via ferry and then way north by Corolla.

I love Ukrops.
We bought maybe a bag worth of stuff and then a big 16-pack of San Pellegrino (I am TRYING TO QUIT SODA BUT IT IS VERY HARD TO DO) and yet the bag boy still insisted on walking the 5/6th empty shopping cart with us to Mike's purple truck. Go figure. It was funny/awkward. Especially when we forgot where we parked. HA! But I do love Ukrops. I may need to stop by there tonight for some sushi before class because I was tres hungry when I got to class last week. We shall see if I get stuck in traffic.

School is school. I have been beating my demons of the past lately. It is hard to get into the groove and keep at it. It's been really tough, to be honest. I have no idea why, it's just school. I guess because I am working 40-50 hrs a week and then having a 2 hour class with a 1 hour drive from work it really burns me out. Yuck.

Back to work, woobeedoo!

Happy Monday

An amazing clip mocking Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory with Willy Wonka being a drug kingpen:



Classic 1970s Monty Python and the Holy Grail - the French taunting scene:




A funny campaign ad from the McCain camp in relation to Obama...

an update!

Anyway, how are things with me?
Amazing, still.

Michael and I have me all moved in into his apt for about 2 months now, and I have been busy trying to unpack stuff but it is harder than I thought! Quite difficult. My issue isn't the unpacking so much as it is the sorting and distribution of stuff throughout our home.

My lease at Eagle's Landing ended last night at 5pm, and I went over there yesterday to clean and it was defintely something I was glad I did alone. Michael had nothing to do with that place --- but a couple of other guys did. And I am glad that I was able to separate these two lives, because the overlap was aggravating. I just didn't need the reminders - awkward. I mean, don't get me wrong, Mike is VERY well aware of my past, but I am glad I decided to move in with him, definitely.

And while I am living with him, which no one in my family but my Grandmama and Grandpapa Jones have a problem with, we recently came to a crossroads...

Does Ms. Worthington want an engagement ring now?

OR

Does Ms. Worthington want a down payment on a house?

WELL, after much thought and consideration, I recently decided that I want a house. The market is good, and I can be on standby for a rock while wearing a traditional Claddagh ring (which I find classy and tasteful before I get my platinum and diamond masterpiece, which we have already chosen). Oh yes, my ring. So it is a gorgeous 3-stone oval-cut ring. With around 3 carats total including the side stones and diamonds within the platinum band. The band also is laser cut on the side with neat scrolling/floral work - and they can make another band with maybe some stones for a wedding band for me. I chose it because Michael loved it as much as I did. I didn't want to make him buy a big blingy ring that he didn't like too.

So, right now we are saving. I am saving for a house and a wedding. And he is saving for a house and a engagement ring. Woohoo!

Work is good. I still enjoy doing what I do everyday. I wouldn't have it any other way. There is sometimes some inner-office drama, but nothing else is a big deal to me. I do my routine, and I like that. My job is a routine. I know what is coming up, except when we have sudden arrests, and I like knowing when my days off are. That is a benefit of this job, still, over retail. Plus working for the goverment fits my ego. I'm a proud person, and having the ability to work for the government works well for me.

Mike and I are just so good. Sure, our life is kind-of quiet, but we make sure our lives aren't redundant. We go out on occasion, and we are REALLY good about seeing shows we want to see, and travelling so see friends and family. We are pretty sure both of our federal holidays coming up, Labor Day and Columbus Day, that we will be seeing his family for one, and his friends for another. And we have a uber-long weekend when we go to a friends wedding two weeks after Columbus Day. That wedding will be in Greenville, SC, so that'll be fun.

We communicate well, and enjoy each others company. I feel really cheesy in saying that, because it makes it sound like we are married already, and I know, it has been only 7 months, but we are so involved in one another that it's a general understanding that marriage is the next step. And besides, we have faith, and I think that gives us a huge boost whenever we have nervous moments in our lives.

My sister, her husband, and my brother recently spent 3 weeks together in China... that was interesting. Even though my Mom told my sister what to expect she still thought eating weird foods was unusual and that the people in the more remote areas were disgusting. As Michael and I talked about it, the more I realized, while I love my big sister, she is a huge narcissist. I mean, she has gotten over the past 3 years the same emails from my brother out of China as I have. He has told us so many times about the cramped trains, smelly holes you use as toilets and have to squat over, and the people spitting and cooking anyplace they wish. A lot of her emails weren't but a couple of sentences about the amazing places James guided them to. The other 3/4s of the email was her complaining about various ailments and how awful the weather was. Um, you ARE there during the WET SEASON. You ARE in ASIA. WTF? She is 38 now, and she doesn't need to complain to her family over here about how "uncomfortable" she is. Nor do I want to read about all of the gross side affects of her dehydration and stomach problems. I had to EDIT them before forwarding them to Michael. Ew Ew Ew.

So that was going on in June/early July. My brother is back in the States for a month while his Visa gets renewed. This is a new Chinese gov't policy. Previously, he would FedEx it to be renewed and could stay in China. Now he has to go back to the States, which is like a 1200 plane ticket, for 4 weeks while Chicago goes over and renews his Visa to continue work in China. He will be leaving the States on August 13. He will JUST miss C & T who will be in LEX for Court's 20-year high school reunion for that weekend.

I had my wisdom teeth taken out. It took me a month now before I started feeling like myself again. I can even be unafraid to brush teeth and smile and laugh! Oh boy. That was a blast, let me tell you. It was probably the most disgusting thing I have ever been through and I am glad it is done and over with. Mike was such a trooper though, as I have said before, because I was HEAVILY drugged. I was also a crying mess and albeit pretty demanding through my suffering. And he took it like a champ! I think he went to the store several times over my 5-day in-home period, because of weird requests. pudding, jello, chocolate ice cream, beef broth (my hero!!), and other lame non-solid substances. I'm glad all of that is over with though! (I just hope the insurance doesn't kick me in the ass).

I can now start today back with my working out. I have been confined to lame free weights lifting during this crap, and forbidden to even do sit-ups (risk of loosening clots and losing 3 weeks of healing). I have been missing it! I need to get back to my Golds routine and thai boxing, etc etc. Mike this Saturday has a lecture to attend at one of the places he trains at on thai boxing so that'll be cool to sit in on if I decide to do so. I might just play house at home and do stuff there. Plus I can always do my yoga from home too.

I hope everyone I know has seen the Sex and the City movie by now.

Mike and I had a great July 4th holiday weekend. It was his 32nd birthday on the 5th so it was busy! On the 3rd we walked after work to South Street Brewery and had some drinks with some of his Marshall buddies. See, in case not everyone heard about it, the President decided to speak at this year's Naturalization ceremony at Monticello on July 4th, which is a ceremony that occurs every year. There was a short-time frame in which to plan the event, so a lot of meetings occurred in my office to help plan and coordinate. Mike, luckily, did NOT have to work this event, but several of his other coworkers did from various branch offices. We also went to dinner with some at a restaurant here that is called West Main. We like it a lot. Then we saw some bluegrass (with Brennan Gilmore) for a couple of hours. Then we went home. On Friday Mike and I spent the 4th at the Brandermill CC with our friends Douglas and Cindy. The guys jiu-jitsu'd for a couple hours in Doug's garage (it has mats in it) while Cindy and I talked about her wedding plans and played Wii Olympics (flipping hard game, btw). We then grilled out and then walked to the reservoir where the fireworks were. Good times, although I got bitten in a few spots, boo. The next day, Saturday, was Mike's bday! He only gets to be a decade older than me for 3 weeks, haha! So we went to see the Black Crowes and it was awesome. Good times were had by all even though there was torrential downpours before the show and not long after it either. Monday was the day my brother got back from China and flew into Richmond so we (James, Mom, Dad, and I... Mike had to rush off for a Marshall duty) met up on the Mall for lunch and had Five Guys and gelato at Splendoras(James wanted a really good burger as his first meal back in the States). It was a great long weekend.The weekend after THAT was the Wedding in Baltimore. I posted pics on Facebook. What a gorgeous weekend weather-wise. We stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn and had a lovely 10th floor corner room suite that overlooked the 8th floor garden. The wedding was at Loyola College, which has a gorgeous Catholic cathedral. The ceremony was presided by a close family friend who is a Deacon, and it was just a really intimate, although big, group of people who came from all over for this couple. The reception was at McCormick & Schmicks on the harbor front in B'more. It was great. I cannot say that too much I think. Everyone kept telling me "welcome to the family" so I really felt welcome and happy to be with everyone (except Kelly C. who gave me the stink eye the whole time).

And now I think I have caught everyone up on all I have been up to...

Sex and the City Movie review

Saw the Sex and the City movie on Sunday. Kind-of spontaneously. Was bored and it was too muggy to necessarily enjoy the outdoors so I decided to spend a great deal of my Sunday early afternoon seeing the SATC movie.

Well, okay, so here is my non-spoiler-ish review.

First off, I think there were around 4 guys in this entirely packed theater. What shocked me, was that this is at 12:15 on a SUNDAY. Why wasn't EVERYONE ELSE in church? Jeezles. So yeah, that was a surprise. I got a seat between two groups of gabbing fans who had popcorn/soda, but I didn't want either because, honestly, I didn't want to need to get up in the middle of this EPIC film!!!!

So I am super-excited and the movie is great. There was a mixed amount of Cinderella-story-ness, but I felt like it was just a really long, really good, although VERY graphic Sex and the City episode. It is quite different seeing Miranda full-frontal naked on a TV versus her breasts being the size of my head on the big screen --- and she isn't even well-endowed! And ugh, Steve always reminded me of ADAM so every time in this movie he is wallowing to Miranda I am thinking "oh grow up Adam and stop looking so sad and kicked-dog-like". Yes, I am a bitch. ANYWAY.... back to naked people, as usual, Carrie was not nude, not surprised, Sarah does have a clause in her contract for that but she and John James Preston were still so ... clicking together. Her Mr. Big did a good job to keep me annoyed to a degree while still loving his lame ass. I mean, honestly, why do I like this old guy? He is a HUGE asshole, looks terribly awkward unless he is wearing a suit, and regularly varies himself from saying the right things and the wrong things - oh yeah, he is reminding me of J.C.! Ha! Go figure. Although Chris Noth is tall and dark and more brooding, which is better (no offense John).

The hot Latino guy shows his man-bits ---- briefly. But he shows the rest of his Greek-sculpture-bronzed-tan-oily-hotness quite frequently. Me likey. Personally, I do NOT mind looking, these guys just aren't my type otherwise. Just physically.

The fashion was fantastic as usual. Although Samantha/Kim Cattrall did finally show her age in a scene where she was wearing a high-waist brief bathing suit, but still, good face, no jowels, and pretty decent upper torso. She must do pilates because she isn't built, she is just finely toned. Let the girl work what she's got, I say.
Carrie wore the gladiator sandal like it is going out of style (which it likely will next season, so Fierce!). And I loved one scene where she kind-of did a quasi fashion show in her infamous closet and they rated some of the most memorable outfits over the years. I loved that.
And we all know I have UNDYING AMOUNTS of love for Charlotte Goldenblatt (spelling? Anybody?). I mean, come on. I AM Charlotte. Look at my closet. It's a teensy bit Carrie (zebra print pencil skirt from Worth?), but mostly Charlotte. So every scene she was in was great! I felt like she kind-of stole the show on some levels.

And, finally...

New York Library, and the scenes following, were amazing. Such a good idea.
Too bad Lexington doesn't have a library like that one.

Um, if Michael asks anyone, I want an old-smelling book with
Love Letters from Great Men for my birthday.