Other Musings

Catching up on the headlines…

I’ve had a long week at work. The type of long week that leaves you feeling like it’s Groundhog Day, waking up each day crying into your coffee with a futile hope that it will be Friday. Well, since today is in fact Friday, I decided to give myself a reprieve and catch up on some of the newsworthy topics I missed this week. After seeing some of these headlines, I couldn’t help but share a few of my thoughts.

(Photograph: Indigo/Getty Images via The Guardian)

Prince Harry was caught with his pants down in Vegas. Oh, wait, they weren’t just down they were nowhere to be found. Suspiciously enough, neither was a single item of clothing of his female companions. While all those prim and proper are screaming “SCANDAL,” I have to ask – why is anyone feigning surprise? You mix a 20-something testosterone-filled ginger with unlimited wealth, subtract any and all responsibility as you’ve stuck his brother with that (and a pretty British princess) and send him to VEGAS? I mean, really. Nudie pictures are child’s play. I view this as a victory, old chaps! Can’t we just be happy he didn’t get rufied, steal Mike Tyson’s tiger and/or adopt a stripper’s baby. Ok, sure, he probably made a few babies, but keep calm and carry on folks. That is your motto, is it not?

Oh, Lancey Pants. What a shame. Whether you did or not, your legacy is now going to be reduced to that cyclist guy who left his wife for shacked up with Sheryl Crow and liked to run shirtless alongside Matthew McConaughey. Shattering a man’s entire reputation and stripping him of his legacy seems a wee bit harsh, USADA. However, as someone who admittedly hasn’t had much free time to read up on the matter and is therefore not informed enough to make a judgement, I offer the following compromise:

Cancer = Significant disadvantage
Brain surgery = Significant disadvantage
Chemotherapy = Really significant disadvantage
Doping = Significant advantage

How about we take away mehhh, say three or four of those SEVEN titles? Surely the man deserves a few wins for enduring testicular cancer and brain tumors and still WINNING? Quick someone call Charlie Sheen. I suspect the expert on #winning while on drugs will be the next natural bromance in Lance’s life. After all, Lance needs a slew of celebrities he can cozy up to and sweat alongside to get him through.

A man tried to rob LL Cool J in his own home, while LL was sleeping. I’d love to know what would posses someone to think it is a good idea to burglarize the home of a rapper who’s song repertoire consists of titles such as “Mama Said Knock You Out.” What the hell did you THINK would happen? Did you think you were going to prance on in his mansion undetected, threatening the safety of the family of a man who makes his living off of being a straight up bad ass? The only thing more broken than your nose, face and ribs should be your pride, you freaking fool. The potential 38 years in prison you could serve is for your own safety. LL would kill you if you didn’t have the walls of a jail cell to protect you from the wrath of his bulging biceps and sexy six pack.

And with that, I’ll leave you with this parting shot for which there really are no words.

(kimkardashian.celebuzz.com)
 

So long sweet summer…

Summer is coming to a close. The days of heat stroke inducing humidity are retreating and soon we will no longer have to live in fear of pit stains at every turn. We can put away the bikinis, short shorts and other assorted skin-baring clothing in exchange for Fall’s wardrobe of pants, long-sleeves, jackets and scarves.

While my inner fat kid is rejoicing at the impending lack of dietary restrictions which go hand in hand with the lack of bikini-wearing, I can’t help but lament the fact that summer has gone by so quickly. There was so much I wanted to do that will have to be tabled until next summer or hopefully, squeezed in during the little time we have left!

Well, we’ve only got a few weeks to go, so let’s make the most of it…by staring at some awesome summer-worthy outfits. As we prepare to bid adieu to a heat record breaking summer, let’s make the most of our seasonal favorites, show some skin and break some head index records of our own!

Here are some of my favorite short-shorts looks. All of you who have gams worthy of such baring, wear away:

So long summer...
So long summer… by kerrychannon featuring shorts
 

Olympic Memories

As I sit here flipping through the television channels, lamenting the lack of athletics available to me on my regularly scheduled TV programs, I contemplate watching YouTube videos of the Fab Fierce Five and the US Swim Team. Yes, I fully admit, I am going through Olympic withdrawal, which is no surprise considering my previous confessions of Olympics addiction. I quietly shed a tear as I watched the Closing Ceremonies on Sunday, mentally setting the countdown for Rio.

As I reminisce of my favorite memories from the Olympics, I can’t help but share a few of my thoughts:

  • Team Fencing would be way cooler if it was just one massive sword fight. Whoever is left standing wins gold.
  • I never thought the words badminton and scandal would make it into the same sentence. As if they didn’t have enough work to do defending the sport.
  • The number of US swimmers and gymnasts who won medals and are still in high school is awe-inspiring, yet slightly depressing for the rest of us. They’ve accomplished more before graduation than the rest of us will accomplish in our entire lives, but McKayla Maroney is still not impressed.

  • Oh, and the Spice Girls are like a fine wine. They’ve only gotten better with age (…and botox, breast implants, nose jobs and other assorted plastic surgeries).
  • And speaking of the closing ceremonies, the irony of Jesse J cruising around in back of a Bentley singing “Wanna make the world dance. Forget about the price tag.” is not lost on us, London. I’d want to forget a $14.5 billion price tag, too.
  • Kerri Strug, you’ve been one-upped. Sure you vaulted with an injured ankle, that takes some determination. Manteo Mitchell ran 200 meters with a broken leg. Sorry, Kerri, your reign as the best broken-limbed Olympic athlete is over.
  • Sanya Richards-Ross is a woman after my own heart. I consider anyone who can win gold while wearing Chanel a role model.
  • And, while we’re on running. Oscar Pistorius is without a doubt the most inspirational athlete that ever was.
  • Who run the world? GIRLS. The United States women won 29 gold medals; the United States men won 17. Womp, womp.
  • And, last but not least, Nathan Adrian, where have you been all my life?

I’ll leave you with that closing thought as we all wait for Rio – and perhaps another dose of Nathan.

 

What’s Your Ideal Foundation Color?

What the heck is this contraption? A futuristic remote control? The latest and greatest mobile device? Well…it is a device and it is mobile, but it doesn’t call anyone or change any channels.

This little thing is your foundation’s best friend.

Pantone and Sephora teamed up to create the Color IQ device which scans the skin’s surface to assign you an official PANTONE® SkinTone™ number and match you with one of Sephora’s in-store foundations, any brand, any formula.

If you’ve ever had any doubts about what shade of foundation is ideal for your skin, stop on in to Sephora and take advantage of this new technology. The only catch? You’ll only be able to drop on in to the Times Square (5 Times Square, Manhattan) or the San Francisco (Powell Street) stores. Sephora hopes to launch the service in more stores in the fall, but for now, its only available in those two locations.

If you happen to be in one of those two cities, or perhaps just passing through, and want to check out, here are some tips:

  • Don’t exercise within 30 minutes of getting your Color IQ read
  • If you’ve got self tanner on, or had a spray tan recently, let your Sephora consultant know so they can be sure the match is as accurate as possible
  • Drink lots of water prior to your match and less caffeine, as it restricts bloodflow

 This technology is perfect for anyone who has ever had a question about what color foundation is best for their skin. A shade too light can wash you out and a shade too dark can leave you looking like you applied self tanner to your face and forgot the rest of your body. I wish I had plans to visit New York or San Fran in the next few months so I could try it out myself. Any of my NYC or West Coast readers, let me know if you have a chance to test the Color IQ device for yourself!

 

San Fran Snapshots

Since it’s Friday and most of our brains are fried, I thought I’d share some pictures form my recent trip to San Francisco. I had such a fantastic time! The trip was the best of all worlds – I was able to work during the week, enjoy the city at night with local friends and family and spent the weekend living like a local in North Beach, courtesy of Airbnb.

On Thursday, I walked along the Embarcadero for a few miles taking in the gorgeous views of the water! I took a million shots of this little tugboat, but thought it best to share just one. 🙂

I went on a run Saturday morning and came across this personable pup, which I affectionately named Rasta-dog.

I continued my run on a trail that lined the waterfront, up a staggering hill through Fort Mason which had some stunning views! Here is one of Alcatraz.

After our run, we went over to the Mission, chowed down on some Mexican food and yummy margaritas, strolled over to Dolores Park and hit up a beer garden, Zeitgeist. All very fun, very local experiences!

On Saturday afternoon, we drove over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito, a small waterfront town just on the other side of the Bay from San Francisco. The picturesque community was bustling with people dining at restaurants, perusing shops and art galleries and enjoying the breathtaking views. Sausalito was one of my favorite parts of the trip despite the fact that we were only there for an hour or two. I would have loved to have stayed longer!

A view looking out on to Angel Island, an undeveloped National Park in between Marin and San Francisco. You can take a Ferry from San Francisco or Tiburon and spend the day hiking the island. This was in the plans originally, but we decided to spend the day around San Francisco instead.

Some pretty flowers at the waters edge…

And I couldn’t talk about San Francisco without a picture of a trolley car! I took this at Union Square earlier in the week. I didn’t get too much time at Union Square but goodness, would I have liked to have spent an entire day there. Union Square has enough shopping options that even the most hard-to-please shopper would be laden with bags within the hour. Nordstrom, Anthropologie, Zara, Gap, J.Crew, BCBG, H&M (2 stores within a 4 block radius!), Lous Vuitton, Bloomingdale’s, Marc Jacobs, Burberry, Barneys, Sephora, Tiffany & Co. – oh the list is endless! I was heaven, but due to my hour time constraint, my bank account was relatively safe.

All in all, it was an awesome trip and I think I’ll be heading back regularly! I did so much more than I captured here. We bounced around so many different parts of the city that I couldn’t possibly name them all.

 

Feeling Good, Looking Good and Doing Good: Team in Training!

Bikini season is on top of us like the hot fudge on that sundae we should probably put down right about now. Assorted quarter life crises are leading to us ponder life questions that should be reserved for Julia Roberts in Eat, Pray, Love. We constantly remind ourselves that we need to “give back” but we just keep giving to our shoe collection…

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m making these statements without an inkling of judgement. These are facts of life. Often, I get so caught up in the day-to-day that I fail to realize a week, a month and then a year have passed, all without my doing anything significant. Setting goals and reaching them is challenging, that is why life coaches, personal trainers and therapists are in business.

However, now is as good of a time as any to take up a new hobby, set yourself up to reach a new goal or cross an item off of your bucket list and I can recommend an excellent place to start your journey – Team in Training (TNT).

TNT is a national organization with local chapters that helps people reach their goals of completing an endurance event (read: Marathons, half-marathons, cycling and triathlons) while raising money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) to fight blood cancers. TNT provides participants with training resources for sponsored endurance events and, in turn, participants commit to a raise a specified fundraising goal. The fundraising goal can be between $500 – $3,000, depending on the event, and the TNT staff assists participants with fundraising, making it even less intimidating to reach your goal. To break it down, it is a change to feel good, look good and do good, in one fell swoop!

Feeling Good + Looking Good

The thought of a marathon or a triathlon might strike fear into the hearts of anyone, but TNT is committed to help you train appropriately, safely and sanely for an event. You don’t have to have any prior experience and the programs are designed for all levels of fitness acumen. The regimented training will whip you right into shape and the steady stream of endorphins will keep a smile on your face.  The added bonus? You’ll meet tons of people, some just like you and others who are radically different, but all who are working together for a common goal, supporting one another and having a good time. You’ll have an entire team to rely on every Saturday morning and I would wager a bet that you’ll walk away with at least one new friend.

If you think a marathon should be reserved for that crazy Greek guy, then try for a 10 miler or a half! You don’t know what you are capable of until you try, I promise you! If you had asked me a few years ago if I would ever run one, I would have laughed in your face, loudly and obnoxiously. Yet, here I am currently training for my third marathon with Team in Training. I even managed to convince one of my best friends to do it too.

Doing Good

TNT-ers reasons for participating might all be different, but the single best part about Team in Training is knowing the impact you are making on the lives of those who are suffering. Each week, you will hear stories from cancer patients, survivors and their family members. Sometimes the stories have happy endings and sometimes they don’t. I’ve shed a tear more than once and I’m sure I will again this season, but I can wake up every day with the confidence that I am doing what I can to help people survive. That is sure to make anyone feel pretty darn good.

And, if you are still doing some soul searching and life questioning, consider this:

Understanding that you have the power to save another life is all you really need to find the meaning in your own. 

Yours truly post Marathon in my Team in Training Gear! See, I’m still alive, and smiling!

If you’re still hesitant, I recommend attending one of their information meetings. The National Capital Chapter is hosting meetings for the Winter Season all over the DC Metro area. There is sure to be one that fits your schedule:

  • Wednesday, Aug. 15, 6:30 p.m. @ Hyattsville Library: 6530 Adelphi Road, Hyattsville, MD
  • Thursday, Aug. 16, 7:00 p.m. @ Potomac River Running: 115 Gibbs Street, Rockville, MD
  • Saturday, Aug. 18, 10:00 a.m. @ Marriott Wardman Park: 2660 Woodley Road, Washington D.C.
  • Tuesday, Aug. 21, 7:00 p.m. @ Potomac River Running: 20630 Ashburn Road, Ashburn, VA
  • Wednesday, Aug. 22, 7:30 p.m. @ Marymount University, Lee Center: 2807 North Glebe Road, Honors Classroom, Arlington, VA
  • Thursday, Aug. 23, 7:00 p.m. @ Chevy Chase Running Company: 4461 Willard Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD
  • Saturday, Aug. 25, 10:00 a.m. @ Hyatt Regency: 7400 Wisconsin Avenue, Bethesda, MD
  • Tuesday, Aug. 28, 7:00 p.m. @ Road Runner Sports: 1120 West Broad Street, Falls Church, VA
  • Wednesday, Aug. 29, 7:00 p.m. @ Fleet Feet: 255 Kentlands Boulevard, Gaithersburg, MD
  • Thursday, Aug. 30, 7:00 p.m. @ Residence Inn Old Town: 1456 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA
  • Wednesday, Sept. 5, 7:00 p.m. @ Woolly Mammoth Theater Company: 641 D Street NW, D.C.
  • Thursday, Sept. 6, 7:00 p.m. @ Marymount University, Lee Center: 2807 North Glebe Road, Honors Classroom, Arlington, VA
  • Saturday, Sept. 11, 10:00 a.m. @ Silver Spring Courtyard Marriott: 8506 Fenton Street, Silver Spring, MD
 

Fight For Your Right to Uber!

A few days ago, I wrote a post about Uber’s awesomeness. Well, it turns out that said awesomeness is being threatened by the DC City Council.

Uber announced a lower cost service, UberX, which provides a less expensive Uber option by using an all-hybrid fleet of cars. They were unable to release this service in DC because the DC City Council is trying to make it illegal for Uber to offer lower rates in any form by passing an amendment to the taxi modernization bill.

The real reason behind this amendment is to keep Uber more expensive than taxis and pushing for Uber to be no less than 5 times a taxi’s minimum fare. The Council is voting on the Uber Amendment TODAY.

Now, I understand that Uber can seriously impact business for taxi drivers. However, Uber wouldn’t have such a strong market here in DC if the taxis provided satisfactory service. Too often, people are denied taxi service based on their destination and charged unfairly when there is a high demand. Uber provides a solution to this problem and is simply trying to make their car service available for as many people as possible.

If you don’t agree, no harm done, I am not trying to change your mind. However, if you do agree, take just 5-10 minutes of your time today and call or write as many City Council members as possible to let them know that you want your right to Uber. Their info is below and you can find more info on the Uber Amendment on Uber’s blog.

You can also sign the petition to strike the minimum fare language from the Uber Amendment HERE.

 

Uber-riffic!

If you haven’t heard of Uber yet, get out a pen and paper and prepare to take notes. Or just get out your phone and prepare to visit the App store, because you’ll want to hit download shortly.

The first time I heard of Uber, I was trying to hail a cab, which was proving extremely difficult since not a single one had driven by in 10 minutes. My friend then exclaimed, “Let’s Uber!” To which I responded, “Ok lady, I know we’ve been drinking, but I don’t think chanting German words will help us right now.” Then she hit a few buttons on her phone, and in the short time it took her to explain the magic of uber to me, a fancy schmancy town car suddenly appeared, ready to take us to our destination of choice.

Uber is described an “on-demand private driver.” That statement probably strikes fear into the hearts of all of us who attempting to stick to a budget. Private driver = $$$. On-demand? Even more $$$. But no, Uber breaks down all of their costs for you, so you know exactly what kind of deal you are getting. You can expect a $7 base charge and $3.25 per mile (if you’re under 11 mph, you’ll pay $.75 per minute), with a $15 minimum total charge. Is it more expensive than a taxi ($3.00 minimum and $2.16 per mile)? Yes. Is it exponentially better than a taxi? Yes. Is it a lifesaver when you can’t get a taxi? Hell yes.

So how do you Uber? Take a trip to the App store on your iPhone or Android device and download the Uber app. Enter in the requested info, including your desired credit card. Next time you need to hitch a ride, go ahead and open your Uber app, set your pickup location and then Uber dispatches a driver to you. You’ll receive a text with an estimated arrival time and your driver’s profile. You can check to see how close the driver is on the map and they’ll have your number so they can call you in case they have any trouble reaching you. The best part, you don’t have to have cash because your credit card on file is automatically charged and tip is included, so don’t worry about giving your driver anything extra. Be sure to rate your driver post-ride – and be nice, it helps them out, too! Uber chooses their drivers based on their ratings and if a driver falls below a certain rating, Uber will not work with them anymore.

As of today, Uber now offers the choice of an SUV only option. This is significantly more expensive, but it makes complete sense if you and your friends are rolling deep (i.e. more than 4).

So, what have we learned?:

  1. Download Uber. Now.
  2. Use Uber whenever you are in a bind if you are on a budget.
  3. Use Uber all the time if you are not on a budget.
  4. If you’re not going far, try to use a cab. remember, there is a $15 minimum charge.
  5. Use Uber if you are out with a 5 or more friends so you can share one vehicle instead of trying to convince a cab driver that yes, the six of you really can squeeze in the backseat.

Another tip, you can use Uber in other cities too. When I was in San Francisco last week, we couldn’t find a taxi so I just opened my Uber app and 5 minutes later, we were off in an Uber vehicle!

 

Independence Day in America’s Capital

I hope everyone had a truly Fabulous 4th of July. I can’t lie, it was a little strange having a holiday in the middle of the week and to have the early morning wake up call for work. But, I’ll just look at it as a couple of two day work weeks! Aren’t we lucky?

Speaking of lucky, I feel very fortunate that I was able to spend the 4th of July in Washington D.C. this year. This is only the second year I’ve been in town for the holiday, but this was the first year I put myself right, smack dab in the middle of the city and I am so thankful I did! Granted, we did frequent two Mexican restaurants (Cantina Marina and Pacifico Cantina) – and, as my husband said, we were just one bratwurst and a potsticker away from making America really proud. It was my first time at Pacifico Cantina, which just opened a few weeks ago, but I’d highly recommend to anyone looking to kickback with a margarita. Check back later today for a full review, but for now a picture tour of my D.C. Independence Day Celebration!

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Some mango beer-garitas with some of my favorite ladies.

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We walked from Barracks Row in Capitol Hill, down Independence to get a view of the fireworks. I only had my iphone, but this was one of my favorite shots!

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And of course, it wouldn’t be right if I didn’t include our view of the Capitol Building.

After we walked down to the National Mall for the fireworks finale, we quickly realized that we were amidst thousands of people all clamoring to get to the nearest metro station. The line to get down to the stations closest to the mall were at least a hundred people deep – and that was just to get down the stairs to the metro. I can’t even imagine what the platforms looked like! So, we kept on trucking down the mall and through the city, which was a great experience in of itself. We strolled past the White House and just enjoyed being in the city, even though I would have preferred the temperature to be about 15 degrees cooler.

We caught a cab in Dupont and once we got home, saw another fireworks show from our living room window. I’d say it doesn’t get much better than celebrating America and our independence with the people you love in our nation’s capital! I hope you all had a great holiday and work is at least bearable today!

 

 

San Fran: the First 48 Hours

Well, almost 48 hours! I arrived late Tuesday night but haven’t really stopped since!

So far, I am loving San Francisco. The Left Coast ain’t so bad, folks!

My trip was not really for pleasure, as I’m working all week, but who can resist mixing a little business and pleasure?

I’ve spent the last two days at my office which is kind of a tourist event in of itself since this is the view:

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Yesterday evening, I was able to meet up with my friend Marisa who recently relocated to this fine city and our friend Greg who is also in town. We ate at a fabulous sushi restaurant named Ryoko. The wait was a half hour but boy was it worth it! Some of the most interesting sushi combos I’ve ever seen!

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This morning I treated myself to a walk around Union Square before coming to work. The highlight of my day thus far? Noshing on grilled salmon and arugula atop Gap Headquarter’s roofdeck taking this in:

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Tough life huh?

On tap tonight? Dinner with family in just an hour! Can’t wait!

I’ll have tons more to share later in the week. Have any suggestions for me?

 

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