fashion Files

Holiday Highs and Lows

It's almost that time of year--nonstop parties, dinners and get togethers for everything from Thanksgiving all the way through New Years Day... And while girls can easily slip into a multitude of dresses--one stop dressing frankly--guys are always stuck doing that suit/khakis/blazer kind of thing because most--not all--have no idea how to dress up, be comfortable and still themselves... But between the formal looks, dressy casual and ugly sweaters there are plenty of unique ways to dress up the season and everyone can use a few ideas

Velvet

There is nothing that screams the holidays as much as velvet in your look--thick, warm and soft, classy without being to fem--velvet is the go-to material when it comes to the season. You can see here in this picture the multiple ways to wear it whether with a casual top, tie and jeans, full suit or even a velvet tux. I find the best way to wear it is with a string dark jean, simple button down shirt and formal shoes or high end boots

A blazer like this with a black jean and button down shirt is hands down my favorite look and can easily be made more punk trend with simple accessories like formal triangles for the collar like these tips from ASOS

Formal Flannel
This is one of the more manly and warmest of the party looks for this season... I love taking a quality low-end item like a flannel shirt and dress it up with something formal like fitted vest or solid colored bow tie and sweater combo.

This is a simple yet layered look that in a holiday color scheme can look playful yet semi formal without the stiffness of a coat or formal pants. You can also dress up the look even more with some unique add ons to take it to the next level:

Suspenders can go over or under the vest for a nice thinning look to the overall chest area-from Topshop

Tie pins are the big thing right now in menswear--they add a more finished look and keep everything in place; kind of like a Spanx for your tie--this one is from Topman

You can even go more rugged and do something fun like the arm garters here--kind of Gatsby/gangster sort of vibe--you can find these at ASOS right now

Holiday Sweater

So we all know the ugly holiday sweater party is a new addition to the social calender--meant to be fun, usually bar based and something meant to be unflattering... But it doesnt have to be that way:

But even as this lovely holiday card shows us; you can spice these sweaters up with a good button down underneath to make the look coordinated and a bit more pulled together. The other thing--and this is unpopular--is you can also wear holiday sweaters and not have it be ironic... There are plenty of websites now giving us holiday flare without the overly ugly aspect

I love this simple yet fun holiday sweater from River Island--and it's not too Christmas so I can wear it through out the season

Tuxedo Done Down

If you're lucky--or just really connected--you might be going to a super formal event and need to break out the tuxedo look... whether you go for a rental or buy/own your own (I suggest indochino.com for amazing suits and tuxes custom-made with styles, cuts and materials updating each season) there are still some ways to update and personalize the look:

                       I love the idea of tuxedos with plain baseball caps--but only with the flat brim

You can do a simple fun cap like the poor hat here--or the classic fedora

I also love a tuxedo with chucks--though take a risk and match the color of the bow tie or handkerchief for a solid pop of color

Or abandon the tie idea all together and go for a ascot instead of the usual bow tie--this can add a bit of swagger and unexpectedness to the whole look...


I guess the biggest thing to take away from these suggestions is to have fun and play around with fabric, color and layering for your holiday looks... Use these ideas as a springboard for choosing your own perfect balance of accessories, patterns and looks for the various holiday gatherings and stick out!!!

Obsession

Obsession

After 10 plus years with the same bed frame, I've been thinking it is time to adult up and get something nice for Johnno and I to share... It's hard because I am picking about any piece of furniture much less something that I will use everyday like a bed. But I figured with OCD about that type of stuff that I would try and spend my time hunting one now and figure out if I can afford it later and voila

It's not happening yet but honestly if it was any more perfect it would have Rory and Matty carved into the metal itself. Metal, strong, orange and just everything--I'm in love.

Inspiration Monday

Inspiration Monday

I love art but there will never be enough time to see it all... Paintings, sculpture, murals, fashion, furniture, jewelry, textiles, mobiles, photography... Even if I won a million dollars and could travel around the world I still would only see a sliver of the works out there... Which is why all the new museums itemizing, sorting and posting their collections on-line has become one of my favorite things to hunt down on the internet...




                                          Watchmaker: Johannes van Ceulen

It's inspiring to see all the various works out there that are currently not displayed and in the past would be considered forgotten but instead have been restored to the public eye... The only bummer is that you cannot just snag the jpeg of the website and post it around since the museum owns the copyright of these images.





                                Laura Newell Veissi by Clara Louise Bell

Until recently

Back in May the Metropolitan Museum of Art posted over 400,000 pieces on their website with a special distinction--OASC or Open Access for Scholarly Content which means that while you cannot make a profit off any of these images--you can repost them for free anywhere without fear of violating copyright and having them pulled down.... Which means not only can people go through the website and find new art to love--they can post and repost and expose it to anyone in the world...



                                           Blue I by Fritz Bultman

  

Now all you have to do is go through the archives to find it--and the MET is one of premier museums in the world. It's like the world's best scavenger hunt!!! For the most beautiful things ever. Here's the website-- http://www.metmuseum.org/collection

Designer: Emanuel Ungaro Date: fall/winter 1987–88

Happy hunting!!!!!

(all images are from the MET Collection and OASC rated)

Fashion Files

Fashion Files--Tis the Season

One of the best things about the holiday season is gifts--giving the perfect ones to friends and family plus getting even better ones for yourself... (I manage this by keeping an updated gift list on myregistry.com--like updated all the time. I'm a shopping whore) One of the hardest things is trying to find something for everyone--even harder to shop for guys who want to be fashionable but not to fussy--which I think screams the t-shirt as the perfect gift.

And since Fashion Files is all about looking for unique and fun places to find clothing pieces--here's a list of some of my favorite and most unique places to shop for t-shirts for both guys and girls...

Threadless.com

The classic and most original t-shirt site--known for having it's users create and designs in order to get mass produced... It's the usually the best price point and they do some killer sales for the holidays such as the 12 dollar sale. The designs range from pun based to goth to cartoon and can be worth a look if your intended has a goofy sense of humor.

Outofprintclothing.com

This is the place to find the perfect shirt for the nerd on your list--Out of Print carries t-shirts, sweatshirts and iphone cases with prints of famous book covers... Besides the obvious choices such a Catcher in the Rye, Of Mice and Men and Pride and Prejudice, they have a great collection of childrens books for both adults and children, poetry covers as well as lesser known classics. While the prices might be more than the average graphic tee, these shirts are high quality and great printing technique

Welovefine.com

This is the best t-shirt company for all your geek friends because We Love Fine does t-shirt designs of all your favorite childhood things but with an adult twist. Carrying everything from "My Little Pony" for your Bronie buds, "Jem and the Holograms" in 80s Art Nouveau style or street takes on "Sesame Street" characters--everything you ever remember from childhood cartoons, video games and TV shows is here. The only warning I have for this company is to order sooner than later and double check the sizes--they can run small

Buymebrunch.com

Simple is the name of the game with Buy Me Brunch t-shirts--classic block lettering, quotes from YouTube videos and 80s music videos, simple color schemes... What I love about this company and it's t-shirts is how it is no frills which makes the shirts stand out even more--because you almost dont see what they say at first and they always get a double take.

Imaginaryfoundation.com

Going in 180 degrees the opposite direction--Imaginary Foundation features bright graphic designs based off of science, philosophy, and psychological imagery. The shirts are more expensive but are lush with color and messages--the weirdest thing about the company is it' "about us" page--it reads like a total cult but a fashion forward one

Rageon.com

Rage On is the most expensive of the websites on the list--but with it's heady and on point mix of pop culture couture t-shirts it can be worth the expense. It's designs feature celebs of all types in clean, brighter large than life prints; you can get a screaming Oprah on a tank top, a collage of Robin Williams paparazzi photos on a t-shirt or famous film stills with quotes on them. The shirts are made of a spun polyester to prevent shrinkage and color fading which seems to be why the high price point--totally worth it for your hipster friends.


And that is just a few of the best t-shirts companies out there for this holiday season... Do any of you have new ones I should be searching out for this Christmas? If so--leave a comment and I'll update the list if it fits!


(and no--I was not paid or swagged by any of the companies in this post--I just love their shit)

Thursday Truths

One Year In

This post is a little late--I think because I didn't know how I would sit down and write it in the right way to give it all the meaning and thought it should. I dont know if there is a proper way to sum up a year in a relationship--much less the first year in a marriage.

It's tricky

As Johnno is fond of saying, the first six months were rough between his company laying him and a bunch of people off, moving out of the Dollhouse ahead of schedule, just trying to figure out how to live one on one... Also--and no one tells you this--you're prospective of your relationship changes once you are married. It's not like I didnt think Johnno and I were forever before the ceremony and rings but once you've done all the pomp and circumstance things take on a different weight.

Your problems become his problems and vise versa--things like health insurance and cars and family issues all become tied together... You hesitate before you buy yourself a new pair of jeans, make more of an effort to pay attention to the mechanics of the relationship, you worry about not just tomorrow but a thousand tomorrows down the road.

It's scary shit

And you sometimes freak out and squabble and learn to breathe and to settle in, you realize how heavy forever can be no matter how much you love each other and you put more effort into the details of the day to day because you know forever is a long time and you want to make it special. You feel the value of knowing one fight doesnt mean you can pack up and leave, the world can be a bit more scary when you are not together and you take solace in the knowledge that this--whatever it is--is the two of yours to make into whatever you want it to be.

It's a hell of a ride 12 months in....

Adventure Time

Adventure Time :FIDM

One of the things I have been trying to do more of is take adventures throughout out the city of LA... Honestly with out the help of the Groupon/Living Social type apps I wouldn't be finding as many ideas of what exactly there is to do around the town...

Obviously one of my favorite things is fashion--so when I heard the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising  was having a showing of Emmy nominated costumes I tricked the husbear into heading downtown. The clothes ran from everything from Sleepy Hallow to Downton Abbey to Portlandia: you're not allowed to take photos of the clothes and yet:

 This is one of the two pictures I was able to get of the Downton Abbey costumes--what you cant tell from TV or these pictures is just how fragile and ornate they are... There is something to be said for the high quality of the hand sewn pieces and yet it is impossible to see how they could take care of such pieces. Everyone had to be rich back then

Another fun thing with the exhibit was that mannequins were made up of a weird paper technique for various elements such as the curly hair styles. Also they would tell you the name of each costume's character--such as they outfits belonging to Edith and Rose from the London trip in the last season.

Unfortunately, I couldn't sneak many pictures--and some of the pieces there were kind of everyday wear from shows like 'Parenthood', 'Castle', and 'American Horror Story'. (Honestly--I wish I could have gotten a picture of the Myrtle outfit.

                     Seeing this outfit in person was INSANE--ask Johnno about me almost fainting

But there was also a lot of various period pieces in the show such AMC's "Hell on Wheels" and "Mad Men" but the best pieces of the whole show really were the outfits from "Salem". I was amazed at how much effort and expense was put into these costumes--it's even weird to think how much you don't pay attention to costumes outside of the high fashion/girl fantasy shows. But even there in the showing there were some head scratchers...

                         These are the pieces from Portlandia AKA Silverlake on a Tuesday
At the end of the day I was glad we were able to go and enjoy the full showing--I also learned that FIDM has constantly changing free shows for the public--including ones where you can adopt pieces of period clothing from as early as the 16th century which I think is cool as shit... Now that would make me a patron of the arts

Inspiration Monday

Inspiration Monday-Christopher Pike 

If you were a teen reader in the 90s through today at some point you probably read one of Christopher Pike's books--to this day when I bring his novels up in conversation people's faces light up as they recall their favorites... "Remember Me" about a ghost named Shari trying to solve her own murder, "Chainletter" about a group of friends stalked and killed for not following the game, "Witch" about a fate and death and when not to mess with either...

                                       Nothing creepier than looking at your own corpse 

It's a testament to his writing that Pike has stayed on our radars for so long--he is one of a handful of people who inspired me to write along side Judy Blume, Jane Austen, F Scott Fitzgerald among others. And when I think about why he stayed with me--and helped create young adult popular enough to make the NYT best seller list--it's easy to see that he did what few people in the genre were doing at the time.

He wrote about real shit.

Sure his books had murders, other worldly creatures in some, teenage psychos in others, but where Pike's strength was at its best is how he wrote about "adult" issues for teens. Characters could be gay or racists, they would talk about sex and drugs, abortions and divorce, they smoked and swore as much as they sighed and held hands. They had deep thoughts and philosophies about things like God and politics, they had real relationships with parents and peers, they weren't always pretty or kind or fun to be around. But there was a solid base of honesty in the stories Pike created and a bond between his reads and himself that he rarely ever broke.

To this day I still believe his series "Final Friends" is Pike's masterpiece--well plotted, complex characters dealing with real things and yet still high school students in the best sense of the word. It is a series that I would die to see made into  a mini-series or short run TV show, something that I always bring up when the conversation turns to inspiring books for myself as a writer. To this day without prompting I can name off all of the characters and what happened to them throughout the series without blinking an eye which is the mark of powerful writing in any format.

                                          Honestly--just looking at this cover give me the chills

Jam of the Day

God Only Knows--British All Stars



I am obsessed with this cover--mostly due to the unique British superstars mixed throughout the video and not just the obvious ones--Eliza, Nicola, Danielle.... Just so pretty and special

Moment of Zen

This picture was taken in Chicago in 1986 when they attempted to make the Guinness World record books for most balloons released at once. And while it is not the most environmentally friendly...

fuck it is beautiful 

Inspiration Monday

I saw this painting hanging over our table during brunch on our honeymoon trip. It's lighter and brighter than it looks in this picture and reminded me how much art has not been a part of my life recently. One of the things I took from the tripis how   much actual art matters to me; almost as much as books and music. Most of my pictures from the trip were of paintings and statues and murals and fountains--it's inspiring me to look into getting back into those activities during my real life and not just while out of town.

Also reminded me whether or not I should do NaNoWriMo-a decision must be made.

Book Whore: The Days of Anna Madrigal

The Days of Anna Madrigal by Armistead Maupin

Okay--it's hard to do a book review on someone who's work is so spoilery and plot twisty as the works of Maupin--and I really wouldn't want to ruin the final book in the 'Tales Of The City' series but I also dont feel like I should give a pass on this one because it really needs to be called out.

WTF did the fans do to you Maupin?

So the book is primarily told in  flashback about the early life of Anna Madrigal--things that we have learned throughout the series are expanded on and explored like where her name came from, her relationship with Mother Mucca as well as something that is very unique... Maupin uses the story to try and explain how if feels to be transgender, what the difference is between transgender and gay, and he does a really good job to his credit.

But he also spends a lot of time in this book attempting to wrap up all the other characters as well: not just his favorites like Brian and Michael but also the new characters like Shawna and Jake as well as a surprising return of a previous character. Once again, I have no complaints about these choices and was actually surprised by how much I enjoyed some of the decisions.

And there are calls backs to previous characters who have long passed--some well loved and some shortly woven through out the story. Which makes sense in the final book in a series, to try and respect the fans, the characters and give both a long and touching good-bye.

And then there is the rest of the book and where the problem lies:

Mary Ann Singleton--as well as Dede and D'or.

Mary Ann is the main character of the series from the first paragraph--we survive a lot with her through these books... Then Maupin decided at some point in the series that he didnt like the character anymore so he basically made her into a horrible person to justify getting rid of her and her story. It was something that didnt ring true with the fans and he later addressed with the previous book--creating a great story for her, redeeming her into the character we knew but also spending the time to bridge the gap between the two different personas. It was the last book that made fans happy and marked a return to his greatest skill and most loved characters.

And she is not remotely in this book--outside of two scenes--which only read as something done to placate the audience than any desire to revisit or finish off the character. Now that only feels like a slight to the fan base--but he then finishes the job by making some really terrible and odd digs at the character in the story through other characters.

But at least she gets some space in the book--unlike Dede and D'or who both get made fun and insulted by the writing without ever even getting a final appearance in the story. Now before you think this is some kind of Misery/disgruntled fan thing, it is actually symbolic of a larger problem that Maupin seems to have had as the series progressed.

He doesnt seem to like his female characters very much--and slowly insults or tears down each of them as the series progressed. There are many examples of this throughout the story: the illogical demonizing of Mary Ann, the dismissal of Mona and her terrible reappearance before her final exit, the handing of Dede as a character and the exclusion of her as a main character, the fact the all the females are at some point dropped out of the novels for odd reasons then are brought back after the fans cried foul. And it takes away from the magic of the series to see them made to be flakes, snobs, bitches or harpies.

I actually wish the series had ended after book three.

It is just a shame that something so special and such a huge part of gay literature, San Francisco lore and the world of serial novelization has been so broken down and died such an ungraceful death.

So is the last book worth reading? If you are into transgender issues then most certainly--if you are into Anna alone as a character then very much so--if you want solid endings for Brian and Michael then that too... But for this reader the need to attack half of the series characters just feels so odd and unneeded--and makes me sad that Maupin felt forced to write about things he didnt want to, He should have just done another different series.

Thursday Truths

You Save The Last Piece of Chocolate.

I haven't felt much like writing--not because I don't miss it or need it but because I have been tired and busy and I had to put something away for awhile. Between some changes in my job--good changes and learning new skills that can be used elsewhere when I am ready to go--and my first wedding anniversary coming up... I just felt like I need to focus on those things and get then done right.

The thing is, I think some times when I do take a break from here that it feels like it is not important to me--when what I have learned over time is that this is something I dont want to do half assed. I dont do it for viewers or numbers or any other things; I do it cause I love to put my feelings down to clarify them for myself, to try and share things I love with people who care enough to wait for me to put them out there. I hold off on coming here until I can do it properly--it's like waiting until I finish all my chores and then I get my dessert.

I don't know if that makes any sense--I guess it only matters that I am back here cause I have the time and heart and love to give. It can best be summed as such:

Today's Jam

Say Say Say by Michael Jackson and Paul McCarthy

So I have been able to write recently--trying to wrap up a season of my show as we're filming a new one AKA hell on earth... And the working out, non-smoking and general life have been making me more tired than usual... But things are perking up--trips to be had, shows to be locked and a general positive vibe about life...

And when I'm finishing up notes on a season I can rock out at my desk... And until I do that I always forget I have the weirdest itunes collection ever--which leads to happy discoveries like this!



What a classic--I miss videos

Inspiration Monday

Phil Donahue

So growing up in the 80s with divorced parents--I spent a lot of time with the TV... It's where I came to love soap operas (RIP Santa Barbara), informericals and "Inside Addition" AKA Bill O'Reilly's trash TV show before his even worst TV show airing now.

But the other thing I watched a lot of was talk shows--Ricki Lake, early Oprah Winfrey, Sarah Jessie Raphael--shows about extreme subjects and celebrity self-promotion. It is where I first saw Joan Collins and feel in love, where I saw families crazier than my own and how my weight struggle wasn't just something I was fighting. And while it wasn't always the best way to learn things--it was an unsentimental education of sorts.

And then there was Donahue--Phil Donahue is the father of the daytime talker in it's purest form. He would debate the issues of the day--whether it was child abuse in the Catholic church, opposing the first Gulf War or the basic issues that came between liberals and conservatives. He had many famous guests on his show--Ralph Nader was a constant guest, Ayn Rand shared her life philosophy as well as various actors, novelists and singers from all over the spectrum. The show was considered the first national platform for hip hop for the majority of mainstream America.

It's hard to pin down one place where Donahue took us to that wasn't something to discuss--whether it was Marilyn Mason in the 90s talking about goth rock, meeting Ryan White and learning about his struggle as a child who contracted AIDS in a era of ignorance, from political figures such as Louis Farrakhan to Bill Clinton, to racism and Holocaust deniers. His show was heartfelt in it's need to understand the world, to share and education through bringing people together. I honestly believe I learned more about the world, different points of view and the importance of interpersonal communication through his show than anywhere else. It's a shame that is show went off the air before his time and he is someone who is missed in this world of tabloid journalism.

Thursday Truths

Smoke Gets Out of Your Eyes

As of today it has been two weeks since I started the long process of quitting smoking--I know I have tried this before but this time I decided that I needed more help than a patch and half-assed motivation. Since I finally had health insurance, I decided to go the prescription route which scared me at first because of all the possible side effects--and I'm not going to say it has been easy.

It Was This Or Committing Murder At My Office

When they tell you a drug can mess with your emotions-make you more aggressive, sad, or just plain off--they are not screwing around. I spent the first few days on my medication feeling crazy, but still knowing I wasn't crazy, which is the only thing that kept me from going crazy. I guessed that as long as I knew it was the drugs then the over-the-top, melodramatic emotions, and overly pronounced sighs were fine. And for the most part people couldn't even tell the difference even as I kept reminding myself that this wasn't really me but the drugs talking inside of my brain.

It's All An Illusion--So I Got This

Once I got my mood swings in check--seriously is this what PMS is like?--I started to spend a portion of my time meditating and repeating my mantra of "I am a non-smoker, I am a non-smoker". I'm not sure if it is working though I have kind of forgotten about cigarettes which is a good thing because that has always been the hardest thing. But I'm not going to say it has been easy, part of this all revolves around self examination--which I have never really struggled with--but also with self esteem and self worth which are really my worst problem areas but I seem to be doing well--so far.

And I have--because I am sadistic--been spending time exposing myself to my social and emotion triggers when it comes to smoking. I still talk with my co-workers Kenny and Jenna if they are outside smoking post coffee, I have been watching early seasons of "Sex And The City" with all the "Carrie smokes" as well as heading to places where I always smoked like bar patios and parking lots. I hoping that by doing all of this I can train myself to associate these people, places and things with other ideas and thoughts other than cigarettes. It seems the key with successful  quitting is rebranding yourself, reshuffling your brain and reorganizing your actions--all things I feel like I can do with time and a full court press,

I mean if Carrie Bradshaw can quit then so can I--cause that bitch was crazy 

I think--besides you know, quitting--the best thing I can do in this situation is to try and learn some patience, work on how I handle stress and social anxiety, and perhaps put away my need for an escape crutch. I also have to learn to say I'm sorry to the people who are being effected by this change--my moods are sharper and sometimes more cutting which I am not proud of. But if I can do this then it will be something to be truly proud of--a commitment to not only my self but all of those who love me and want to keep me around. I have to realize that is more important than anything else--which is the hardest lesson of all.

Fashion files

Bougie Doesn't Begin to Describe This

Unless you live under a rock you probably know the new Iphone 6 and IPhone 6 Plus came out this week; I'm not usually too hot on these tech announcements because I barely even use Siri much less every new idea they add to the mix... But for some people this is a huge life changing thing and thus we are gifted with this:

iPhone 6, 6 Plus in your pocket from AppleInsider on Vimeo.

The entire video is just a guy explaining and demonstrating how the new phones fit in each type of pocket compared to not only the 6 and 6 Plus but also the Iphone 5. It's almost too compelling to watch as he goes through the various cuts of pants, jackets and suits to explain the important of the fit--I'm only disappointed that he forgot to do shorts, joggers and harem pants

This is what they mean by first world problems.

Fashion Files: Home Addition

Stir Crazy

I can tell the exact moment I have been too housebound... I start looking through my house for various odds and ends to try and redo the Clubhouse decor... I suddenly go through all the pictures I steal off the web, various piles of my random housewares and debate a total redo... It can be fun and stuff but can also head down the "he is crazy" vibe really quickly. But it is all so pretty...









I mean--the bed room isn't really finished yet and I have never done a ceiling treatment. I mean--it can't be that hard really--the worst thing would to have them land on our sleeping heads,

One of My Favorite Things

Pantone Color Day

I know it seems stupid and silly and against my free-natured spirit but I always love Pantone Color Day... What it is is simple--this company announces the "hot" colors for the next season; you'll see these colors in home decor, clothing and makeup rolling into stores through the next year.

Usually I can guess where they are going color-wise ahead of the game--it's only when there is an unexpected shift in fashion like the "normcore" trend that the game gets changed. 

So here is this years colors

I am a huge fan of all three shades even though they are a bit too cool for my taste--I tend more bright blues, oranges and metallics. But they are weirdly early 90s GAP or Calvin Klein which is a happy memory for me so I can go along with it. And honestly I love when pink goes mainstream.

Now off to find pieces in these colors at the thrift and discount stores ahead of the new season!

Moment of Zen

Honestly I just Love These Shoes

They are unrealistic, probably a bit too flashy and yet I think they are just stunning. And they probably would be until the first time I tripped and scuffed them. Then they would look like rejects from a cheap North Hollywood production of the Wiz--which I would be honored to be a part of in all honesty.

But seriously my life is more this:

Though it feels like this:

Though maybe the shoes would change all that? Hmm...

Thursday Truths

The Struggle is Real

My job after certain point is really just me telling the others what will happen, forewarning possible issues, and I'm usually correct on all fronts. So much so that my nickname is The Reaper since I'm constantly pointing out how to fix problems before they happen.

Essentially I am Cassandra of Greece myth-predicting the future and trying to save this show while everyone else acts like I'm crazy. How I feel is best summed up by the clip from "Scream 2"--which is not something ever said before on the internets.




Honestly the only difference here is that I wouldn't run from the killer but to him--at this point any reason not to work is a sweet release.

Life Hack

Coffee Nap

I love naps--like really love naps. When I don't get my daily nap I become borderline narcoleptic and tend to either shut down full or become a bitch on wheels. As my former roommates--Edie, Kelly, Valerie, Billie, Candace, Mac, Mrs Garrett, Kaylee, Lola and Johnno--they can all testify to my overwhelming need for sleep

The Struggle Is REAL

I'm not sure when this started to happen--my mother used to say I never napped as a child so I suspect it is part of my current party lifestyle. I mean--9 hour workday, 45 minute workout, coffee/drinks, gaming with the Husbear and then at least one episode of Golden Girls before I attempt to go to bed which usually means reading some Amish Romance on the Kindle. And I gave up caffeine a few years back to help with my eating habits so I don't get that jolt. But I don't drift off to sleep easily before midnight because I'm worried something is going on somewhere without me.

He is Missing Out On Everything

So when there was a recent study comparing coffee versus napping when it came to re-energizing I was interested to see what they came up with. What the study seemed to conclude was that a combination of the two worked best--which seemed a bit weird. But I want to cut back on over-napping and work on a better sleep schedule so what's the harm?

Worst Case Scenario

The study explained a neat trick that worked the two ideas together and maxed out the benefits of each one. It comes down to combination of body chemistry and the organic benefits of coffee. I decided to give it a shot because I wanted to get myself more awake time in the day. I'm debating doing NaNoWriMo again this year-cause I'm a glutton for punishment.

That's Not Realistic-But You Go Girl 

So here's how their plan works:

1) You make a cup of regular coffee--doesn't matter if hot or iced--but it needs to be fresh. They claim that soda or other caffeinated drinks wouldn't work as well with this plan--though I suspect for someone like me who doesn't usually drink that kind of stuff I could use pretty much anything.

I Can Do This In Cup Form Right?

2) You drink the cup one setting as quickly as you can. This is important because the plan hinges on your body's ability to process the drink while you move on to other parts of the process.

Never Apologize For Getting It Done

3) Nap for 20 minutes only-very important. When you drink coffee it takes about 20 minutes for your body to process caffeine into your blood stream--so by timing the drink with the nap you get the best of both without the negative of either. I have tried this a handful of times now and do feel a difference in my energy levels.It's not the most restful nap--probably because I am not used to any caffeine so it hits me harder--but I am definitely ready to go in about 5 minutes after waking up.



This is a victory since I am the world's crankiest person post sleep as Edie, Kelly, Valerie, Billie, Cadance, Mac, Mrs Garrett, Kaylee, Lola and Johnno can testify. I mean it is bad--like a whiny toddler bad--whiny, sleepy, hungry toddler bad.

The Fact I'm Married Still Amazes Me.