Daily Blog

[ms. g.]

I agree with Melissa... but I also like the last one.  Granted, about half of my wardrobe is black, but I also like the cut & neckline.

[Mel]

I'm with the others, the orange (or is it red?) with circles.  I like either of the blues for a second choice.

It's good to see you Melissa.  How was Prague? 

[Lucy]

Helen, I like dress #2, 5 (orange with circles) and 6.  However, you'll look beautiful regardless of which you decide on.  I think it is so sweet that you're making the jam for your sisters wedding favors.  You are the best sister ever!

The Disney cruise was excellent.  The food was great, the entertainment was fantastic, the rooms were surprisingly spacious, and the service was top notch.  Our family ranged in age from 8 to 80 and everyone had a great time.  We saw Toy Story 3-D on the ship.  We really liked it.  I think it's the best of the franchise. 

Now for another page of the "Lucy and her knock-offs" story...  The last time I was in NYC, about a month ago, I bought the BEST Coach knock-off EVER for $40 bucks from a little old Chinese lady that I had to follow into a backroom in an alley.  Well, you can imagaine how I've bragged about it, cuz you really can't tell it from the real thing, the details were that good.  So, of course, it serves me right that the zipper just broke on it!     When will I learn?  You get what you pay for!

[Helen]

Thank you for your help, ladies.  I think I'll probably go with the orangy-red (circular one).  It's bride and mother of the bride approved as well.   


I really hope the ruching around the bodice makes me looks like I have boobs.  Fingers crossed! 

[Lucy]

I really hope the ruching around the bodice makes me looks like I have boobs.  Fingers crossed! 

I once had this bra with a clicking thing in the front, so you could push the boobs closer together for just such occassions.  Not sure if they exist any longer, but damn did it do the trick!!  It made your bust look an entire size bigger.

[Helen]

I wonder if when you pair a push-up bra with falsies, you magically go up two cup sizes.  Since you go up a cup size with each product, it would make sense that you'd go up two sizes when they join forces for the common goal of bustiness.

[Angelina]

Howdy, gents!  How is everyone?  I guess I should read back to find out, shouldn't I?

Helen, all the dresses are nice.  I personally favour the lighter blue floral-y one, but the orange one is very nice and looks like it would definitely help with a case of small boobs.  I, personally, wore a camisole sans t-shirt underneath for the first time the other night and felt like a hooker even though it wasn't even very low, so sometimes small boobs are a very good thing, as all camisoles seem to be made for the tiniest boobs imaginable.  Thanks, Aeropostale.  Help a C-cup sister out.  haha  But I digress... 

Lucy, I am so jealous of your Disney cruise!  It sounds super fun.  Also, I find it hilarious that you followed a little Chinese lady into a back alley for a bag.  Very Bourne Identity. 

Melissa, I am SO jealous that you're going to Europe!  If you find any hunky dunky Brits or Irishmen that are in need of a tiny Canadian wife, send them my way!  And don't let them stop over at Lucy's, 'cause she'll never let them go and then I'll still be high and dry.  That's right, Luce, I'm on to you.

Rachel, you disappoint me immensely!  You haven't seen Eclipse?  That's about 15 shades of wrong.  Don't make me go into a fangirl rant at you! 

As for little old me, I am drifting into a mild panic because I have less than three weeks left of being a teenager, and whilst it's not like my teens were anything fantabulous, it still seems scary to be entering a whole new age bracket.  Also, I am going to see The Backstreet Boys next week, and as I have had unlimited love and adoration for them since I was 6 years old, I am quite excited.  Oh, and I'm totally hooked on a British comedy/parody singing group called 'The Midnight Beast'--they are so funny and their songs are so catchy, it's ridiculous.  I highly recommend checking them out on YouTube if you want a laugh.  Especially 'Lez Be Friends'.  So good.

Alright, well, just thought I'd check in with my IV homies!  Oh, and all those Henry pics you're gathering for the gallery-OI!  Those take me back.  Such fun memories of trying to stalk Henry here on IV and chatting with all you lovely ladies.  I heart IV. 

[Annemiek]

Hahahaha, Angelina! You've heard of the Midnight Beast? Nice. love their parodies, Tik Tok's hilarious, although I do not recommend listening to it right now if you do not want that song stuck in your head for the next few days.
Can I then do some other band recommendations:
- Ben Howard !!! Have not stopped listening to his EP since seeing him live sunday before last. Sooooo good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dunc5Q7kMgs
- The Crookes, sort of Vampire Weekend meets The Maccabees(not that many of you will have heard of the Maccabees http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8g0REgZYc_w, but they are really really good too!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc-Nu86hBsY <---The Crookes
So I had quite a good week last week, because of this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nijmegen_Marches
and of course my main hangout of the week: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De-Affaire (This is where I saw Ben Howard and The Crookes) Really fun! There's such a nice laidback atmosphere there, in contrast to the other stages and 'party-areas' in the city.
In non music related news, I was nearly run over on wednesday by some doofus who wanted to turn right were that wasn't allowed. Stupid tourists.

I know I do keep going on here about music, but seeing as there isn't much HC-related stuff to talk about I hope I am forgiven. 

[Helen]

Alright Annemiek, I'll see you Ben Howard and raise you Johnny Flynn:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABjhV_LutUE

Enjoy

[Annemiek]

Yeah, like I haven't seen him live as well, tss. Name any of the nu-folkers and I will have seen them! Ha! Laura, NATW, well that's about it, actually, hmm, need to try harder! Do Mystery Jets count seeing as Laura Marling did guest vocals on one of their tracks?? I think so well saw them too.

And I did enjoy your link! (was searching you tube and came upon some interviews then a great pun sprang to mind: Johnny Flynnterview  )

I'll give you ehm ehm *looking through iTunes Library*


Goldheart Assembly: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeRNw0nTESE

Dry The River: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4EoNZQ0reI

Ed Harcourt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37x0gBD9PgM

The Unthanks: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmhACB1ZPQM (This song almost always makes me well up at the end, )

And not to forget: Bombay Bicycle club's new acoustic album which is lovely! especially Ivy & Gold: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WK2fWmsBUzk

[Lucy]

Welcome back Ang!!!    

Speaking of concerts, I asked my daughter if she wanted to go to the Rhianna / Kesha show. The only  catch is that she would have to go with me, since 12 is too young to go to a big concert in a big city without supervision.  She thought about it for a few seconds and responded "that's okay, I'll wait a few years until I can go without you."  Hmmph!  I think her answer begs the question: is it too late to put her up for adoption?   

[Rach]

Helen, I forgot to ask, what time of day is the wedding?

Angie, Im gonna see it, I swear. Im just not going to pay full ticket price for it. I dont think thats unreasonable.

 Lucy, its NEVER to late.

I'm trying to change my spending life style a little and I'm considering giving up my Shiseido skin care regiment for something readily available at a drug store. My make up guy here got me started on it but I think spending about a $100.00 every time I need a refill is excessive. You know, until I get another job and I go back to irresponsible spending. Ha. But I digress. What would you gals recommend in the skin care world?

[Lucy]

I'm trying to change my spending life style a little and I'm considering giving up my Shiseido skin care regiment for something readily available at a drug store. My make up guy here got me started on it but I think spending about a $100.00 every time I need a refill is excessive. You know, until I get another job and I go back to irresponsible spending. Ha. But I digress. What would you gals recommend in the skin care world?

I honestly don't think you need the expensive stuff in your 20s and 30s.  At this point, your responsibility to your skin is to keep it hydrated and protected from sundamage.  I'd suggest a mild daily cleanser, of which Cetaphil is the best of the best and available everywhere.  Follow that with a daily moisturizer with SPF 15 or higher (even in winter), or you can use a moisturizer followed by an spf.  I like Nuetrogena's Oil Free Daily Hydrating Lotion with spf 15.  It's light and absorbs quickly.  I also love the Body Shop's products, which are often available during "buy one get one free" promotions.  The pink Vitamin E line is my favourite.  Oh, and don't forget to exfoliate at least once a week, this allows the dead skin to wash away so that whatever poducts you use will work as they should.  Also, drink lots of water and don't smoke.  Trust me, follow this routine and you'll still have beautiful skin well into your 40s and 50s.

[ms. g.]

Oh my, Lucy... that's so cold!  How did you react?  I probably would've laughed... such a typical teenager (or almost teenager) thing to say.  I'm sure she'll eventually realize that her mom's actually pretty cool.

Rach, I have to agree with Lucy about the Neutrogena products.  I'm a *cough* bit *cough* older, so I have to use the more expensive hardcore moisturizers now, but I used Neutrogena products through my 20's and still use some of their stuff now (love their lightweight sunscreen).  Currently, my favorite skincare products are from Origins... I love their Checks and Balances cleanser (tried Cetaphil, but I thought it left my skin feeling a little oily rather than clean & moisturized).

Do you have access to Costco?  They have some of the luxury cosmetic products in their stores... I know it won't make a huge difference in price, but a little discount helps if you want to splurge every now and then.

[Lucy]

Oh my, Lucy... that's so cold!  How did you react?  I probably would've laughed... such a typical teenager (or almost teenager) thing to say.  I'm sure she'll eventually realize that her mom's actually pretty cool.

I laughed and said that's fine.  What can you do?  Like you said, it's pretty typical, not to mention payback for having done it to my mom at that same age.  On the upside, I don't have to go to the concert now. 

Okay, ladies, I have a loaded question...what did you think of Obama appearing on The View?  Personally, I think it was smart of him to use a far reaching medium to connect with average Americans.  He's not my "commander and chief" though, so I'm curious to hear your "view" (hahaha).  I don't normally watch the show, if fact, I hate it, but I tuned in today.  I think he had some good things to say.

[Helen]

Lucy-- I wouldn't have let her anywhere near Ke$ha concert without a gallon of sanitizer.

Rach: The wedding is at five, with people arriving around four. It's on 9/11 (I know), which ought to be in the mid-to-high 70's. As far as skincare goes, I use a 3-step system from Clinique. Not the best in terms of cheap; however, the in-store stuff just doesn't work as well for me, and I’m too damn old to deal with blemishes.

Annemiek--All American:
Josh Ritter:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-FdtUVyom4&feature=related

Okkervil River:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKmZRO8XzyY

Wye Oak:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyJJE0kCiR0

Smith Western:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3WUSDjB6zo&feature=related

Surfer Blood:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63Ji05Bd-t0&a=4oVf-d_DwKDYkAvNiiO6yGlN2eNYzM8b

[ms. g.]

Okay, ladies, I have a loaded question...what did you think of Obama appearing on The View?

I agree, he needed to speak to middle America on their turf.  Did you notice how crackpot (that would be Hasselback) kept looking like she was waiting for her moment to pounce?  And when she did try to corner him, it didn't work... in fact, the audience applauded his reply.  Did she really think she could match wits with him?

In other news, I've been sick all week and am just now getting over it.  I hate how the common cold lingers and is merely annoying rather than debilitating like the flu.

[Mel]

So I had tabled the trip to Houston earlier this summer for an assortment of reasons but everything kind of fell into place and...

ROAD TRIP!

I threw everything into the car and drove through four states today.  Could have flown us for next to nothing but we wanted to stop by Cafe Beignet on Bourbon street on the way home...Preston is going to be in heaven!

Notes:

There is simply no way to preload enough music to last a 10+ hour drive.

Anyone that believes Alabama is a third world country, has never been to Lousianna.

[Helen]

Y'all are stopping by Cafe Beignet?!?!  I'm so jealous.

Personally, I've always thought Mississippi is the saddest state in the union; however, Kansas and Arkansas are the worst states to drive through.  To be fair, my hatred of Arkansas stems from a hastily made trip to NOLA for Mardi Gras in which I drank too much and tossed up my accounts from Arkansas to Philadelphia. 

It was a long car ride for everyone.

[DBL]

Fridays are supposed to be the best day of the work week right? Why is it that all hell breaks loose every Friday here at work? It's the busiest day of the week.  On a more positive note today is payday and for once the entire check isn't already spent!

[Rach]

Dont get me wrong, Im totalllllly thankful that I have a job and I'm really looking forward to when we start shooting, but, right now, I'm lonely. Me, two producers and the writer/directer are the only ones in the offices at the moment. I need some pals. But, I am taking advantage of the time we have alone to get to know everyone well. Its not an opportunity I have been given before.

In other news, I finally went to Ikea to finish up apt shopping, I had to put a stop to buying furniture after we got canceled, but now that I have a job for a few months I was certain I would be able to fulfill all my superficial apt goals only to be CRUSHED at Ikea by my two couch/sofa sleeper choices being out of stock. CURSES!!!!!!!!1 I did, however, finally buy a computer desk, a dinning room table and two chairs, so, other than the couch and a larger dresser, Im pretty much set. Also, we got a kitten a few weeks back, 9 days to be exact, and I love her. We adopted her thinking she was really chill, this is from a "rescue", but after she came home and didn't eat or drink for 24 hours we rushed her to the vet to find out she was really sick. Im so disappointed that the rescue people let her fall into the condition we adopted her in and it was really fucking stressful and scary to wonder if she was going to live. We werent supposed to stress her out and she needed to eat and drink but she wouldnt, so we had to force feed her stressing her out and medicine twice a day also stressed her out but after two days she finally started eating a bit on her own and now she is a good kitty who eats to her hearts content.

Anyways, I started a new job, got a kitten, bought some furniture and didnt get an iPhone 4. Thats all I have to say about that.

[ms. g.]

I spent several minutes this evening crawling on my living room floor, trying to identify the insect that darted under a side table.  I didn't get a good look at it when it took off, so I wasn't sure what it was.  A spider? I'd let it live through the night... it will eventually come out into the open and I'll squash it then.  However, I absolutely hate crickets and would turn my house upside down in order to kill a cricket that had the nerve to wander into my house.  I am happy to report that it was a mere spider... and I came to the conclusion that I really should run a Swiffer under my sofa more often.

[DBL]

Rach, do you have pics of your new furry friend?
Yesterday my little 15lb kitty ran away terrified from a bug crawling on the floor.  Aren't cats supposed to like bugs?

[Rach]

Rach, do you have pics of your new furry friend?
Yesterday my little 15lb kitty ran away terrified from a bug crawling on the floor.  Aren't cats supposed to like bugs?

Thats Clinton. She had a URI and now she has, or has had, Giardia! That rescue is the WORST. But she is lovely.

[Helen]

My cat had giardia as a kitten so I know how unpleasant that can be; my condolences.  She’s a beautiful kitty.

What is it with sick kittens?  My friend’s kitten Tiberius, "Tibby,"  is just getting over serve kidney failure after being in at the emergency vets for four days.  I went to Richmond on Tuesday night because she wanted me to comb through all his blood work.  Although the vet did a wonderful job saving Tibs’ life, she did a piss poor job of explaining what exactly the tests stood for on the blood panel, which is something my friend needs to understand in order to feel okay.  Now, I’m trying to fundraise since she has until Monday to pay the remaining $1,500 of a $3,000 bill.

[Mel]

My "No more animals in the house" rule was vetoed but rather than getting a soft furry kitten my son opted for two seven inch scorpions.  I try not to think about it.

I had one day turnaround time from Houston before I was off to Atlanta last week where I helped my youngest sister (post surgery) take care of her toddler and preschooler.  I'd forgot how exhausting young ones can be. 

The kids are back in school now with a minimum of gnashing of teeth.  I'm happy to be able to clean the house in the morning and it stay that way nearly all day....amazing. 

A new/old job is in my forecast.  I'm thinking about going back to work for the company that I worked for before my current one.   

[Helen]

Sooooooooo, my sister got a KitchenAid stand mixer for a bridal shower present, and I'm fairly certain it's taking me down a doughy road of remorse.  It’s simplified things in ways that make me think, ‘why don’t I throw together a quick pizza crust for dinner; it won’t take long!’  Or, ‘Hey, why don’t I have everyone over for Sunday brunch instead of going out to a restaurant.  I can make those Orange-Honey Sticky Buns I’ve thinking about for months with a quick spinach and goat cheese frittata.’  And for last, my personal favorite which I said to a friend, “Oh, you’re going to to Katie’s bachelorette party.  I can’t go but if you like, I have a lemon bundt cake recipe I’ve meaning to try out.   I’ll make it, you take it, and report back me.”

I’ve become a baking monster!  I’m out of control!   I just Googled ‘Are there support groups for baking addicts,’ which sadly doesn’t seem to be something people take seriously; however, there is a baking soda addict forum out there…

[ms. g.]

Oh, Helen, I wish I could've warned you that your life will never be the same after you acquire a stand mixer.  Just accept it and try to cope as best you can.

In other news, summer finally decided to visit southern California last week and will be sticking around for most of this week, too.  Luckily, it's not oppressively hot but we have such potent air conditioning at work that it makes going out for lunch a little like walking out from a refrigerator and into an oven.

[Helen]

Sadly it's not mine for keeps--I have to give it back after the wedding.  It's about time you all got some summer heat in LA.  I swear it's been the hottest summer in memory.

I don't know why I just agreed to wait two hours for an oil change, aside from appleasing my 1,000 miles past due guilt.  Now  I'm sitting in the grocery store surfing the Internet on my iPod. 

[ms. g.]

Ah, I see... I thought you and your sister were sharing custody of the stand mixer.  Still, Target carries the low end Kitchen Aid models so you may find yourself putting one in your cart one day.

Has anyone been able to watch an episode of "Wipeout" and not get hooked?  I find it oddly compelling.  I'd also love to meet the sick bastards who come up with those obstacles.