wishbone clover

Cool Stuff I've Been Doing ... at StyleList

I just got a reminder from the lovely ladies at BlogHer that I've been neglecting this sweet blog. That will never do, but this week I'm super busy with my family visiting to celebrate my 40th birthday month.

Rather than freak out about coming up with a clever post, I thought I'd share where I've been for the past couple of months. Since there is a lot of fun, new stuff, I decided to break it up over a couple of posts.

This first one is about what I've done lately at StyleList, namely a ton of interviews, including:

• Martha Stewart -- and some quotes even got picked up by NY Magazine!
• Madonna's make up artist, Gina Brooke, of Shu Uemura, gorgeous and gracious
• Project Runway's Christian Siriano -- who was a total sweetheart!
• Celebrity stylist and extension guru Ted Gibson
• Tom Brokaw -- yes, the real one -- about style and character
• Ali Hewson (Bono's wife!) on "Sustainable Fashion"
• I'm now one degree of separation from Cutest Beatle Paul McCartney, thanks to an interview with his designer daughter, Stella McCartney (also, I disavow the bitchy tone, which came from a very heavy handed editing job) 
• Another hair giant, Sally Hershberger who talked about how to give your hair guts, using her AMAZING new Shagg line
• Albert Kriemler, AKRIS designer, and fine Swiss gentleman
• Naeem Khan, designer of the finale dresses in the movie Dream Girls, and also an amazing gentleman

Bonus post: my BFF Baby and I did a Dior Master Makeup Class at Neiman Marcus and then had delicious drinks while wearing ridiculous amounts of makeup. That's me, covered in bronzer, standing between master makeup artists Becky Watkins, on the left, and Karen Hummel on the right.

Flying Monkey of my Dreams

One of the best things about our visit to Monterey is that we went to the big antiques barn one street back from Cannery Row. They have all kinds of emerald green glasses, funky jewelry, and a whole booth filled with Wizard of Oz paraphanelia.

I really, really wanted this flying monkey cookie jar, but it was $175. On sale. There was also one of the Emerald City, complete with a full rainbow. Even marked down, that one was over $200.

When we saw the rainbow later that day, I said to Chief, "See? It's a sign that I need to go back and get that Emerald City cookie jar."

"No it's not," he replied.

And then we talked about the other stuff. He always knows how to distract me in the moment, but I'm still dreaming about having my very own flying monkey.

Rainbows, Ponies and Tattoos

Chief and I went to Monterey this weekend for a little getaway that involved a smoke alarm and (nearly) flashing the maid.

We also saw this amazing rainbow over the Bay. It stretched so far that we could see both ends!

While we enjoyed a romantic rainbow moment, Chief and I had this (totally typical) conversation:

Chief: Girls love rainbows and ponies.

Me: Yup. Or unicorns.

Chief: And guys with tattoos.

Me: Yeah, a lot of them do.

Chief: Who cheat on them.

Me: Well (big sigh) girls are dumb.

Chief: With their sisters.

Me: Yeah, and with their best friends, too.

Then we both shook our heads, then went for fish and chips and brown drinks called "Steinbecks".

It's good to be with someone who really gets you.

St. Patrick's Day - 8:45am at the Irish Bank

And to quote my 5th Grade teacher friend -- "Recently, I did have a kid state during report on St. Patrick's Day that, "St. Patrick was famous for converting all of the pigeons to Christianity." The correct word, of course, being pagans, not pigeons."

My Black-cent

Chatting with a bartender with a pronounced Irish brogue...

Bartender: People hear my accent, they ask where I'm from. I say 'What, are y'all kiddin' me? I'm from Mon-tayn-na.'

Me: 'Y'all'? Is that your best Montana cowboy accent?

Bartender: Yo. I be kickin' it. That's my black accent. My black-cent.

But With People Arms

In line at a video store

Woman: We're getting this movie for our dog.

My friend: Oh.

Woman: It's his tenth birthday! What are you getting?

My friend: To Die For. According to the cover, Nicole Kidman sticks her chest out.

Woman: I don't like Nicole Kidman. I wonder if Underdog sticks his chest out?

Woman's boyfriend: Are we buying this or renting it?

Woman: Renting it. We'll try it and see if he likes it. Underdog: he's like a dog, but with people arms.

Things for Ladies

Sometimes on Wednesdays I have lunch at the counter of Canteen in San Francisco; usually I sit next to "Ruby," an octogenerian who faithfully attends worship services for the best sole quenelles ever.

It's like Tuesdays with Morrie, but we drink wine, talk about Shanghai in the 1930's, and in general are way more interesting than "An Old Man, A Young Man, and Life's Greatest Lesson."

Ruby: What....(tries to make disparate slices of toast fit compactly together) Waitress! Make me some new toast.

(The waitress brings new toast. It does not fit.)

Ruby: Pardon me, but I have poor eyesight. Can you make these fit together?

Me: (fumbling) No.

Ruby: I hate waste. Where are your parents from?

Me: My father's family is from England, my mother's family is from Poland.

Ruby: Poland and England? Those don't fit.

Me: Like bad toast.

Ruby: (cackles)

Fill His Brain Tank With Sugar.

Woman: And I feel like it's crap for a guy to say 'I'm afraid of committment.' Well, I'm afraid of bullshit, so I guess we're both afraid.

Mermania Indeed

At the bookstore near my apartment, in front of a display case of pulp novels.

Me: That cover is amazing.

Clerk: The text on the back is even better. Read this.

Me: "...could he counter the depths of Ethel's depravity?" I don't think you can be named Ethel and have "depths of depravity."

Clerk: What about Ethel Merman? She was pretty depraved.

"How Do I Like My Lobster? Freed of Your Bourgeois Constraints, D-bag."

Hipster girl: Remember that time I applied to be a hostess at Red Lobster? And I didn't do so good on the interview? And they told me I should try another line of work? Yeah...it was like that. I hate Red Lobster.